Three Magic Words to Keep Students on Task
ByHow often should a student be on task in a classroom?
I think 100% of the time is a good idea.
If a student is off task, and you inquire as to why, or address the specific reason–talking, looking for something in their folder, staring into space–the student can then try to draw you into their world by explaining the excuse.
Here are three magic words: “Get on task”.
So, not:
Teacher: “Mary, what are you doing with that bag? You should be working.”
Mary: ” I just had to find a paper i was looking for because…. blah blah blah ”
Teacher: “Well I want you to get to work, this is an important assignment. ”
Mary: ” I know, I just need to find this paper blah blah blah .”
Better:
Teacher: ” Mary, get on task.”
Mary: ” I was just looking for a paper because…blah blah blah.. ”
Teacher: ” Get on task or you will have a 15 minute detention after school. ”
Better is the simple direction: Get on task. Then a consequence if not complied with.
This is to avoid the classroom discipline error and stress of going back and forth with students all the time. The big difference between the first and second example is that in the first, you follow the student into their reality. In the second, you bring the student into your reality, which is where you want to be in the classroom.
You can repeat these magic words–”Get on task” no matter what response you get. This is a classroom management technique for avoiding manipulation and cutting these conversations short.
Happy teaching,
Craig Seganti
I teach in a primary school, children aged 7-9 years old. The school is situated in a very ‘difficult’ area, parents are not well educated, they do not pay much attention to appropriate children upbringing and they do not seem to know anything about disciplining them. I loved your list of consequences, however I can’t imagine putting them into practice in my school. First of all, a 15-minute detention may be problematic because when I finish my lessons, the students either still have their lessons going, or have already left the school. In Poland, each class, as well as each teacher, has got different schedule. That makes it difficult to carry the punishment out immediately, on that same day when misbehaviour takes place. Second of all, it is forbidden to ask a pupil to leave the classroom since we (teachers) are responsible for them, and if anything happens on a hall we are to be blamed, moreover those are quite small children. There’re no cameras to control the halls by administration staff. As I already mentioned, my students are small children, but they are not too little to behave like criminals and use shocking language. I did not experience any personal abuse, but I find them difficult to control in terms of shouting, running and not paying attention. Could you offer me any tips to handle such difficult children, any ideas how to punish them? I would be really grateful. I love my profession and I can’t imagine me performing any other job, but after each day spent at work I fell exhausted! I am a teacher not a psychologist and I would like to teach, not to endlessly struggle with disruptive behaviour. My school year starts on 1st of September and I was hoping to enter the classrooms with fresh and effective ideas of how to maintain the discipline there. Again, I would be very thankful for any help.
When it comes to work outside the class I figure bad grades are enough consequence. However, calling parents is a good idea on the homework, and you might experiment with the detentions if it works. “Let what works be the test of what to use” –Bruce Lee
Hi Craig,
I thouroghly enjoyed your book (I listen to the audio version over and over). I just need a teaching position to execute your rules:) Question – what is your homework policy? If a student does not complete it/hand it in the next day, dDoes that fall under your rule of “not on task” with the 15 minute detention consequence?
I have just read your book and think these are great ideas, BUT I teach in a rural school in which all students are bussed. Rather than the detention that is mentioned, what is another consequence that you would suggest?
What happens if some kids are so sneaky that you don’t catch them? Will you be considered inconsistent because someone “got away” with something when others did not? Or do you just consider the sneaky one, not disrupting the class? The only way you know they were doing anything is because someone getting caught off task will “rat the others out”. Is this where you really put the “Three Magic Words” to the test and not enter into that conversation?
I can only hope and pray that your book will help me. This is only my 3rd year teaching and I want to quit. My class is SO disruptive and I am frustrated all the time. I hope you ideas help!!!!!!
I can’t wait to introduced my class to these three little words tomorrow. I know I’ve used the same exact three words many times before, but never with the same mind set; not settling for anything, but that.
I would just like to say how awesome this program is for me. I have been teaching for 14 years and attended a couple of classroom discipline workshops. But Craig, you are the man! I haven’t even finished reading your book as yet. I am only into the first couple of chapters, but having already implemented a couple of the strategies you’ve outlined (including the three little words), I can tell you it makes a tremendous difference even with my “toughest” class. Thank you thank you thank you. I can’t wait to get through the remainder of the book because thanks to you my classroom gets quieter and more productive every day! Cheers!