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Disruptive students can take many forms, but having a student heckle you can be one of the most difficult to deal with without losing your cool.

When you face such a situation, it’s important to remember these five tips to help diffuse the situation and lessen its impact on the class as a whole.

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Prevention is always the best step

Don’t allow students to test your boundaries. It is important that you set the tone for the classroom from Day 1. If you make it clear that you don’t put up with disruptive behavior, it will be less likely that it will become a problem later in the school year. If someone is acting out mildly, be sure to put it to rest BEFORE it becomes an issue.

  • Post a list of the classroom rules
  • Ensure that you are direct when discussing your behavioral expectations
  • If a student is starting to veer toward misbehavior, cut them off immediately
  • Always encourage students to communicate in an appropriate manner

Remain calm and as emotionless as possible

Escalating the situation very infrequently leads to a favorable result. Instead, keep calm and address the student in a measured way that makes it clear that their behavior won’t be tolerated. Oftentimes, they are simply trying to get a reaction from you and see how far they can push you. Don’t play into this type of behavior by remaining aloof and professional.

Be clear about what you want the student to do

Make it clear that you are there to teach and that the students are there to learn. Any behavior that disrupts that outcome will not be tolerated. One of the worst things you can do as a teacher is to look the other way and hope that the situation magically gets better.

Be patient, and they may be trying to tell you something important

Even when it may seem like a child is trying to heckle you or otherwise act out, it may simply be a sign of immaturity. It’s important to remember that children aren’t always adept at appropriately expressing themselves. Before you completely shut them down, allow them to express themselves and then suggest that they try again in a more acceptable manner.

Reprimand them privately

Do not try to embarrass a student or shame them into submission. Such acts will likely cause them to act out even more. If you feel like there may be more than meets the eye, ask them to stay after class to discuss their behavior privately. Your teacher’s duty is to always treat them with respect and dignity, especially in front of the other students.

Like so many other instances in the classroom, a student heckler may not be all that they seem at first glance. Your approach to the situation can mean the difference between a student that completely alienates themselves for the remainder of the school year and one that turns themselves around and becomes a productive member of the class.

Make sure you instill respect in your students while allowing them to express themselves appropriately. When you set the classroom expectations, you will likely shut down any misbehavior from the start. Utilize these five strategies to stop a student heckler before they get started! Your duty as a teacher is to ensure that they don’t cause an ongoing issue for the entire class.