When the focus in your classroom is placed on negative behaviors, it is unlikely to motivate your students to behave appropriately. Instead, make an effort to focus the majority of your attention on reinforcing positive behavior. When you ask the students to sit quietly at their desks, praise individual students by name if they are following directions. This may encourage those not listening to settle down and pay attention. Point out students who stand in line correctly, finish their work quietly and follow classroom directions. Concentrate on offering positive reinforcement to the students who have the most difficulty following directions. The more praise they are given, the better they will feel about themselves, which makes it more likely that they will adhere to your rules in the future.
Offer rewards and incentives to your students to encourage appropriate behavior. Use this approach for individual students and for the class as a whole. Throughout the day, distribute good behavior slips. When a student receives one, he puts his name on it and places it in a jar. At the end of the day, pull one name out and offer a small prize, such as a piece of candy or a sticker. For young children, give a sticker at the end of the day if behavior was appropriate for the whole day. Give your whole class points when everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing. Once they get a certain number of points, have a class party or watch a movie together.
One of the best ways to encourage appropriate behavior is to have consistent consequences. Discuss with your class what your classroom rules are. Outline exactly what the consequences are for certain behaviors. Consequences could include a lost recess, a call home or a trip to the principal's office. Each time a student breaks the rules, immediately follow through with the consequence. This sends the message that you take your rules seriously and expect your students to do so also.
Behavior visual aids might help remind your students about their behavior. Use a stoplight model where green means a student is doing well, yellow means to stop and think about the behavior and red means stop what you are doing and accept your consequence. Have a stoplight for each student and move colored cards to indicate where each one is. Paper hands with fingers that fold down may work as well. A high-five means a student is doing well, but each time a finger gets folded down, it means a consequence is given. Write your classroom rules and post them prominently in the classroom as another visual reminder.