Are you looking for ways to prevent kids from wandering around the classroom needlessly? If so, keep reading.

1. 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.

2. Assess the visual and auditory stimuli in the classroom. Ascertain the number of stimuli the learner can tolerate. Remove unnecessary stimuli that contribute to the learner’s unnecessary or excessive movement from the classroom environment.

3. Be firm, fair, and consistent, expecting the learner to sit quietly without moving about unnecessarily. Do not let the learner move about unnecessarily one day and expect them to sit quietly the next day.

4. Plan short learning activities for the learner to perform while seated. As the learner shows success staying in their seat, slowly increase the length of the learning activities.

5. Draft an agreement with the learner stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., demonstrating physical self-control) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

6. Get a peer to signal the learner when they move about unnecessarily (e.g., the person can touch the learner’s arm as a signal that they are moving about unnecessarily).

7. Be firm, fair, and consistent with having the learner leave a situation when they begin to move about necessarily (e.g., send the learner to a study carrel for 10 minutes, make them sit in a chair for fiveminutes, etc.).

8. Move materials used for tactile stimulation (e.g., pens, paper clips, loose change, etc.) away from the learner’s reach.

9. Place the learner near the teacher.

10. Make the appropriate adjustments in their surroundings to prevent the learner from experiencing stress, frustration, anger, etc., as much as possible.

11. Coordinate individual tasks when the group setting is overly distracting.

12. Provide visibility to and from the learner to keep their attention when oral questions/instructions are being delivered. The teacher and the learner should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times.

13. Get the learner to gather all the learning materials appropriate to work on a project, task, etc., to lessen the need to search for learning materials.

14. Create an environmental setting for the classroom that promotes optimal individual performance (e.g., quiet room, background music, fresh air, etc.).

15. Talk regularly with the learner to prevent excessive or unnecessary body movements.

16. Do not let the learner take part in learning activities that cause them to become so excited that they move about unnecessarily.

17. Observe the learner to prevent them from not sitting quietly and moving around unnecessarily.

18. Teach the learner to use techniques to gain self-control when they are moving about unnecessarily (e.g., count to 10, say the alphabet, sit in a chair, leave the situation, etc.).

19. Provide the learner with frequent chances to leave their seat for appropriate reasons (e.g., getting learning materials, running errands, assisting the teacher, etc.).

20. Allow the learner some movement while performing tasks. Observe and limit the amount of movement.

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

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

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

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