Sue Cowley's tips: attention seekers

Some students go all out to get your attention, and often they do so by behaving in a very negative way. The problem with attention seeking behaviour is that your instinctive reaction is to give these students your attention. You need to learn to fight your instinctive response and to use your attention for more positive means.

To deal with your attention seekers:

• Ignore any low level misbehaviour from your attention seekers. If you do respond to it, you will only reinforce the negative behaviour.
• Don’t give your attention seekers the benefit of making eye contact with them, unless they’re doing something good.
• Instead, give specific, detailed praise to those who are doing what you wish. Use the student’s name, add a warm tone to show you are pleased, and give that student your fully focused attention.
• Don't panic if several students are misbehaving simultaneously in an effort to get your attention. Show that you are in control of how you respond by focusing only on those who are behaving.
• Use your voice, your facial expressions and your body language to encourage all your students to engage with the learning.
• Use humour, too, to show your human side to the class.
• Get in close to students, to ensure that they’re on task, and use a quiet or whisper voice to talk privately with them about any behaviour issues.

More about this issue

• Watch an example of this issue being resolved
  15 mins Attention Seekers
  Part of the series Teaching with Bayley

  Bayley helps a Year 7 French teacher manage disruptive behaviour

• Further related programmes:
  • 15 mins Bright Extroverts
    Part of the series Behave to Learn with Bayley

    John Bayley helps two KS3 teachers manage vocal, engaged students

    15 mins KS3/4 Dance - Boy, You Can Dance

    A PE teacher leads a group of Year 9 boys in a dance class
• Visit the Behaviour Hub to find out more on related issues