Top Ten Elementary Classroom Behaviors
Included below are a list of behaviors that are commmonly seen in the elementary classroom. Along with the list of behaviors, it includes some possible solutions that may help solve these behaviors in the classroom setting.
Frequent Bathroom Use
A behavior that is often seen in an elementary school classroom is students using the bathroom frequently.
Possible Solutions:
1. Allow only one boy and one girl to go to the bathroom at a time
2. Have a limited number of passes per student (one boy & one girl) or per day (1-2 depending on
length)
3. Have a clip system so it is a visual way for the teacher to see who is out at a given time. Along
with this can be setting up rules that one person or one boy or girl can be out at a time.
Possible Solutions:
1. Allow only one boy and one girl to go to the bathroom at a time
2. Have a limited number of passes per student (one boy & one girl) or per day (1-2 depending on
length)
3. Have a clip system so it is a visual way for the teacher to see who is out at a given time. Along
with this can be setting up rules that one person or one boy or girl can be out at a time.
Attention Seeking
Another behavior that is present in elementary classrooms can be attention seeking. Students often seek attention from teachers and others. It is important to give students the opportunity to receive credit and attention.
Possible Solutions:
1. Have a "Star of the Week" so that a student feels special and can bring a special object in or have a
small poster on the wall.
2. Have classroom jobs/chores so each student feels special and involved.
3. Give attention seeking students 5 minutes of your direct attention at least once a week. Or
depending on class size, allow 5 minutes to speak and check up with each student.
Possible Solutions:
1. Have a "Star of the Week" so that a student feels special and can bring a special object in or have a
small poster on the wall.
2. Have classroom jobs/chores so each student feels special and involved.
3. Give attention seeking students 5 minutes of your direct attention at least once a week. Or
depending on class size, allow 5 minutes to speak and check up with each student.
Sharpening Pencil Too Often
Sometimes sharpening pencils can become an event that happens too often in class.
Possible Solutions:
1. Have the student sharpen 3 pencils before the school day begins as part of the daily routine. The
student can use these pencils for the whole day and will not have to waste precious time
during class being disrupted and taking too long to sharpen pencils.
2. Teach students how to sharpen pencils and how long is appropriate to sharpen a pencil is.
3. Have pencil sharpeners in at a box of supplies in a designated area in the room or have a box of
utensils at each grouping of students desks.
Possible Solutions:
1. Have the student sharpen 3 pencils before the school day begins as part of the daily routine. The
student can use these pencils for the whole day and will not have to waste precious time
during class being disrupted and taking too long to sharpen pencils.
2. Teach students how to sharpen pencils and how long is appropriate to sharpen a pencil is.
3. Have pencil sharpeners in at a box of supplies in a designated area in the room or have a box of
utensils at each grouping of students desks.
Talking Out Of Turn
Talking out of turn can be a very prominate behavior in class. This is when a student blurts out or does not raise his/her hand to talk.
Possible Solutions:
1. Allow students to do Think-Pair-Shares. This can be a great way for students to talk with
other students. The teacher can direct what they will talk about and allow them to
move across the room.
2. Use popsicle sticks. Popsicle sticks can be useful in a classroom. I remember having them
in my fifth grade classroom. It made each student accountable and each student would talk.
Possible Solutions:
1. Allow students to do Think-Pair-Shares. This can be a great way for students to talk with
other students. The teacher can direct what they will talk about and allow them to
move across the room.
2. Use popsicle sticks. Popsicle sticks can be useful in a classroom. I remember having them
in my fifth grade classroom. It made each student accountable and each student would talk.
Personal Space
Personal Space is the appropriate room in which two individuals operate, talk, or work.
Possible Solutions:
1. Teach students about personal space using a simple exercise. This can be done by
having a student stand up, stretch out their arms and swing them in a circle
around them. That should be enough space to move and not disrupt or hit anyone.
2. Teach students when it is appropriate to hug or touch someone and have the
student ask the other person before they do go to hug or touch someone.
Possible Solutions:
1. Teach students about personal space using a simple exercise. This can be done by
having a student stand up, stretch out their arms and swing them in a circle
around them. That should be enough space to move and not disrupt or hit anyone.
2. Teach students when it is appropriate to hug or touch someone and have the
student ask the other person before they do go to hug or touch someone.
Tattling
Tattling in the classroom refers to a student telling the teacher about something that another student did wrong or different. Tattling and telling are very different because it can be keeping someone out of trouble rather than getting them into trouble. When a student tattles, it is in hopes to get another student into trouble.
Possible Solutions:
1. When developing rules at a class meeting at the beginning of the year, develop a no tattling rule.
2. Read a book at the beginning of the year about tattling. An example of this book could be,
Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/74464.Don_t_Squeal_Unless_It_s_a_Big_Deal
Possible Solutions:
1. When developing rules at a class meeting at the beginning of the year, develop a no tattling rule.
2. Read a book at the beginning of the year about tattling. An example of this book could be,
Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/74464.Don_t_Squeal_Unless_It_s_a_Big_Deal
Low Motivation
Motivation can be a struggle sometimes in class. Gaining motivation can be a struggle for teachers in the elementary grades.
Possible Solutions:
1. Include technology and "up-to-date" games to teach lessons
2. Use hands on materials
3. Have lessons that "grabs" the students attention from the beginning of the lesson
4. Create a token economy for the class or a goal in order to have a pizza party
Possible Solutions:
1. Include technology and "up-to-date" games to teach lessons
2. Use hands on materials
3. Have lessons that "grabs" the students attention from the beginning of the lesson
4. Create a token economy for the class or a goal in order to have a pizza party
Movement
Movement is such an important part of life. It is important for teachers to remember that they need to allow students to move around, especially for students with ADHD.
Possible Solutions:
1. Allow students to have frequent breaks
2. Decrease the amount of time spent on transitions
3. Allow students to stand up around his/her desk but be close enough to touch their desk
4. Have exercise balls instead of chairs
Possible Solutions:
1. Allow students to have frequent breaks
2. Decrease the amount of time spent on transitions
3. Allow students to stand up around his/her desk but be close enough to touch their desk
4. Have exercise balls instead of chairs
Temper Tantrums
Tantrums are when students get upset. This may happen in an elementary school classroom.
Possible Solutions:
1. Maintain a daily schedule and routine
2. Prepare a student for changes if known about in advance
3. Give the student choices
4. Talk through the situation and problem with the student
5. Allow the student to come up with some consequences or solutions and be understanding
Possible Solutions:
1. Maintain a daily schedule and routine
2. Prepare a student for changes if known about in advance
3. Give the student choices
4. Talk through the situation and problem with the student
5. Allow the student to come up with some consequences or solutions and be understanding
To Be Ok With Losing
Students often get upset when they lose at a game or sport event. It is important to teach students that losing is ok.
Possible Solutions:
1. As a teacher, be a model and model how to deal with disappointment and loss as a good sport
2. Talk about a particular sports team that has lost and how they dealt with it
3. If losing is a re-occurring thing that happens, help the student find something s/he is good at
4. Teach a lesson about winning and losing. You could read: Sally Sore Loser: A Story About
Winning and Losing.
http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Sore-Loser-Winning-Losing/dp/1433811901/ref=sr_1_20?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361856702&sr=1-20&keywords=losing+for+children
Possible Solutions:
1. As a teacher, be a model and model how to deal with disappointment and loss as a good sport
2. Talk about a particular sports team that has lost and how they dealt with it
3. If losing is a re-occurring thing that happens, help the student find something s/he is good at
4. Teach a lesson about winning and losing. You could read: Sally Sore Loser: A Story About
Winning and Losing.
http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Sore-Loser-Winning-Losing/dp/1433811901/ref=sr_1_20?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361856702&sr=1-20&keywords=losing+for+children
Other Resources
Included below are resources about behaivor problems and how to reduce them.
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/five-persistent-behavior-problems-and-how-handle-them-grades-6x968
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuide.aspx?sid=4
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/five-persistent-behavior-problems-and-how-handle-them-grades-6x968
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuide.aspx?sid=4