Are you looking for strategies to teach students not to talk during quiet time? If so, keep reading.

1. Praise the learner for working quietly: (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

2. Talk with the learner to explain(a) what the learner is doing wrong (e.g., talking to others during quiet activity periods) and (b) what the learner should be doing (e.g., waiting until it is appropriate to speak, working quietly, etc.).

3. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. • Raise your hand. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

4. Praise those students in the classroom who work quietly during learning experience periods.

5. Praise the learner for working quietly based on the duration of time the learner can be successful. As the learner shows success, slowly increase the duration of time required for reinforcement.

6. Take the learner away from the learning experience until they can demonstrate appropriate behavior and self-control.

7. Draft an agreement with the learner stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., working quietly) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

8. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the learner’s appropriate behavior. The parents may reinforce the learner at home for working quietly at school.

9. Get the learner to be the leader of a cooperative learning experience if they possess a mastery of skills or an interest in that area.

10. Assess the appropriateness of the task to ascertain (a) if the task is too easy, (b) if the task is too complicated, and (c) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.

11. Make sure that reinforcement is not provided for unacceptable behavior(e.g., making unacceptable remarks, talking to others during quiet activity periods, etc.).

12. Provide the learner sufficient chances to speak in the classroom, talk to other students, etc. (i.e., enthusiastic students need many chances to contribute).

13. Provide a predetermined signal (e.g., hand signal, oral signal, etc.) when the learner begins to talk to other students during quiet time.

14. Show the learner that they may be trying too hard to fit in and that they should relax, talk less, and talk at appropriate times.

15. Organize the learner’s surroundings to limit chances for talking to other students during quiet activity periods (e.g., keep the learner engaged in learning activities, have the learner seated near the teacher, etc.).

16. Provide the learner with duties in the classroom (e.g., running errands, chances to help the teacher, etc.).

17. Minimize learning activities that might be menacing to the learner (e.g., announcing test score ranges or test scores aloud, making students read aloud in class, emphasizing the success of particular learners, etc.).

18. Give the learner many chances for social and academic success.

19. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

20. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

21. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

22. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.