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How to Control Excessive Talking of a Student in Class

"Stop talking." "You're interrupting." "Please, wait your turn." Repeating statements such as these can make even the most effective teacher sound like a broken-down record. Students who interrupt class and talk out of turn create distractions that impede the flow and effectiveness of even the best-prepared lessons. Steps can be taken to prevent excessive talking and to minimize the poor habits that may already be in place, including classroom arrangements and family involvement.

Things You'll Need

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Instructions

    • 1
      Post and teach the classroom expectations.

      Write down expectations for talking and discussing ideas in the classroom. Read these rules to the class each day for the first week of school. Teach students what paying attention looks and sounds like, then demonstrate examples of talking out of turn. Post the written classroom expectations in an area for all to read. Describe the consequences for breaking the classroom rules. Follow through consistently with the expectations and consequences for students talking out of turn.

    • 2
      Build a positive, personal relationship with students.

      Ask personal questions of each student during transitional time or down time. Add comments about your own life or opinions. Listen closely to the responses of each individual and refer back to his comments later. Build personal connections with each student in class, particularly with those who demonstrate behavioral trouble. Talkative students are less likely to sabotage lessons when a trusting relationship has formed between themselves and their teacher.

    • 3

      Motivate students to engage in the learning process. Build a relationship with each student in the class and learn what interests they have what things motivate each child to learn. Determine the learning style of the particularly talkative students and include those methods into the lesson plans.

    • 4
      Communicate regularly with parents.

      Talk with the parents or family members of the disruptive student in person or over the phone. Compliment parents on the strengths of that particular student. Ask for perspective or guidance in reference to the excessive talking behavior. Continue regular communication via e-mail or phone calls to report both progress and problems.

    • 5
      Non-verbal cues help students recognize they are talking out of turn.

      Make and hold eye contact with a disruptive student while conducting a lesson. Stand in close proximity and place a hand on the shoulder of the student to indicate the talking must cease. Develop a cue to signal a warning to that particular student that the talking must stop or consequences will follow.

    • 6
      Proximity to other talkative students may aggravate the problem.

      Arrange the classroom to help a student who talks excessively to control her behavior. Move her desk away from students she frequently spends time talking with. Place a barrier between her desk and the rest of the class for a short time to help her reestablish classroom conduct habits. Place the desk of the talkative student in an area where she can be monitored readily.

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