Maintain your composure. Never address a student's disruptive behavior when frustrated or angry. Take a minute to cool down. Your anger will negate your redirection.
Stand close by the disruptive student. Walk over to his desk and continue your instruction from there. Sometimes the proximity of the teacher will correct the behavior.
Redirect the student using a neutral and supportive tone. Your tone should communicate that you would like the student to stop disrupting the learning environment, not that you are angry with him.
Do not engage in a power struggle with the student. Calmly let the student know you will return to the lesson as soon as he stops disrupting the class.
Ignore the student's disruptive behavior whenever possible. Students in the class will often follow your lead and ignore the disruption as well.
Use positive reinforcement with students in the class who are acting appropriately. Do not comment on the disruptive student's behavior.
Continue your lesson and instruction. Encourage students to continue paying attention and taking part in the lesson.
Acknowledge and praise the disruptive student frequently when he is not disrupting the class. Reinforce the desired behavior.
Meet with the student one-on-one and ask him if he understands the classroom rule about not disrupting the class. Ask him if he understands why the rule is important. If he says he does not, discuss this until he can agree that disruptions have a negative impact on the learning environment.
Create a list of disruptive behaviors and acceptable options. For example, if the student disrupts the learning environment by asking questions while you are delivering a lesson, let him know the acceptable way to ask questions is to raise his hand, wait to be acknowledged and then ask his question.
Create an agreement with the student outlining the behaviors that are acceptable and not disruptive to the classroom environment.
Agree on the next step for dealing with class disruptions by the student. For example, the next step can be a phone call home or an in-person conference with the student's parents.