Even though I have been teaching physical education for many years, I still have to deal with behavior issues during class. I don’t have all the answers and I don’t expect to learn all of the tricks. However, I have developed a few strategies over the years. This list is just a sample of the different techniques that you can use with students who are misbehaving during class.
- Use proximity. This is an excellent deterrent. When a student is starting to misbehave, walk towards the student. Students will see that you are getting closer and may start to pay attention a little more or may focus back on your instructions.
- Make eye contact. This is commonly called “the look” as you show off your best intimidating expression to the student. Through body language tell them to get back into line without verbal communication.
- Give verbal warnings. You can give the student a verbal warning by calling out their name and simply stating a warning. You can also ask to speak to the student to the side of the class. Speaking away from the class can be a more gentle way to talk to the student and makes some students less uncomfortable. Taking the student aside also allows you to interact with the student. I usually ask the student what they were doing and also ask what I want them to be doing. This allows them to understand that they are not doing what I want.
- Give a timeout. When a student doesn’t make a change, you can give the student a timeout. The time out is a place that has already been set up just outside of your class area. You need to be able to see this location regardless of where you are standing in your area. A time out place is where a student goes when asked and can return to the teacher when they are ready. It can also be a place where a teacher can send a student and keep them in this location until the teacher is ready. I find it helpful to have a task card that says “Time Out” on the card along with some questions to help refocus the student.
- Use a “Think-it-Through Sheet”. When a student is having problems focusing on a task during the day and you have already tried some of the other tips, give the student a “Think-it-Through Sheet.” The “Think-it-Through Sheet” is a written consequence for the students. It gives the teacher a written record (from the student) on why they were removed from the class. My “Think-it-Through Sheets” have the students answer questions about why they were taken out of the class activity and what choice they should make in the future. I also have the student take the “Think-it-Through Sheets” home to have parents sign and return the following day. I do have to make an effort to either call the parents about the “Think-it-Through Sheet” or write a note to the parent.
- Use classroom behavior plans. I have found great success in using classroom behavior plans. These plans are set up by the classroom teacher ahead of time. I simply work within the behavior plan with the student. Many of my colleagues in the classroom use a clip chart for their behavior. A student starts out the day on cool and they move their clip up the chart. They go from cool, warning, time out, buddy teacher, lead teacher and stop on administration. Each time the student moves their clips they know what to expect. This is very easy for me to follow since I have so many elementary classes that come straight from their classroom teachers. The clip chart can be used for all grade levels, but is more effective with the younger students.
- Make use of a buddy teacher. When students continue to make bad choices during class, send them to a buddy teacher. This is something that should be in place with a colleague prior to sending the student. The student goes to the buddy teacher and fills out a “Think-it-Through Sheet” or something similar. The buddy teacher will talk with the student about their behavior and may send the student back after 10-15 minutes or keep the student for the reminder of the period. Sometimes it may be a benefit for a physical education teacher to have a classroom teacher as a buddy teacher since the classroom teacher will always be in the same location. It’s hard tracking down a physical education teacher that may be on the field, in the gym or in a classroom.
- Embrace behavior contracts. Some of my students have behavior contracts. These contracts are developed with the parents and are signed daily by the parents. The student hands you a copy of the contract at the start of class and you keep it until the end of class. Contracts can be as easy as writing down a happy face or a sad face. It can also be a star system where a teacher marks down the number of stars that a student receives during class.