Quick Tips for Correcting a Disruptive High School Student
By Thomas LeGalley, National Career and College Readiness Specialist
Welcome, agents of education! Ready for our top-secret mission? Today, we’re unveiling techniques for transforming chaos into classroom cool. Grab your invisible ink pens and decoder rings. Let’s decode the secrets to a harmonious classroom, one covert operation at a time. Mission briefing starts now — Ready, set, engage!
Non-Verbal Cue: The “I See You” Stare
First up, the “I See You” stare. No need for words. Just lock eyes with the student, and give a little nod or hand signal. It’s like a secret spy code that says, “Hey, let’s keep it cool.”
Take Away Their Audience/Private Conversation: The Secret Agent Move
After class, pull the student aside for a private chat. Without the audience, you can have a real convo about what’s up. It’s like a top-secret mission to better behavior!
Proximity Control: The Hovercraft Technique
Stand near the disruptive student and let your presence work its magic. It says, “I’m here, I care, and we’re in this together” — and maybe also “Stop being disruptive.” The ultimate goal!
Run an Errand for Me?: The Mission Impossible Tactic
Need a distraction? Assign them a mission — like fetching supplies or solving a quick puzzle. Redirect their focus and make them feel like they’re saving the day. “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…”
Positive Reinforcement: The Rockstar Shoutout
Catch them doing something right? Time for a Rockstar Shoutout! Praise them on the spot with high-fives, fist bumps, or an epic “You rock!” Positive vibes lead to positive actions. Make them feel like the hero they can be!
Classroom Signal: The Silent Code
Have a secret signal that lets them know to reign in the behavior. This takes true partnership. An example might be a radio volume gesture — to turn the sound down, perhaps. Or even as simple as pointing to the ground. It’s a non-verbal, stress-free way to connect with this single student about their behavior.
Extra Credit: Long-Term Strategies
What are their interests? Get curious about what makes them tick. Are they into cooking, NASCAR, or video games? Use their interests to connect and engage. I once had a difficult student who loved to cook. We traded cooking ideas, and he even brought me lunch. When I checked his grades, I was the only class he was passing. That small connection meant the world to him.
Positive Parent Involvement: The High-Five Home Call: Call home with the good stuff. Share positive progress and team up with parents to strategize improvements. It’s a high-five call that builds a support network for the student. Some of these “difficult” students may have never received a positive phone call to their parents. So when they hear that you called mom and said something nice, they are shocked, and you can watch their behavior turn around.
So there you have it, super sleuth teachers! Correcting a disruptive high school student can be quirky, fun, and all about building them up. Turn those challenges into opportunities for connection and growth. Now, go out there and make your classroom the coolest place to learn! Happy teaching!
For more tips from Thomas, check out our YouTube series:
Thomas LeGalley is the National AP/ Electives/ CTE Specialist with McGraw Hill. He has been with McGraw Hill since 2016. Currently, Thomas can be found conducting Professional Development trainings, or working with teachers delivering product presentations across the U.S. Getting meaningful teacher feedback helps to make McGraw Hill better. THANK YOU EDUCATORS!
His most recent work has focused on developing and sharing digitally-forward blended learning instruction, working closely with many teachers and McGraw Hill teams.
Thomas received his MFA from Southern Methodist University with 9 years teaching in the high school classroom. Teaching and working with educators is the joy of his life!
