Many times students have difficulty knowing what to do if they have a problem with an assignment, or they don't understand the task that the teacher has asked them to complete, or other students are trying to talk with them when they should be doing their work. It is a common practice for teachers to prompt their students to "stay on task" but many students do not really know what behaviors they should use when they are asked to stay on task.

Introduce the Skill

• Have students brainstorm things that happen in the classroom that distract them when they are trying to complete their work. Examples might include: someone talking while others are working, someone coming into the classroom noisily, someone tapping their pencil, etc.
• Brainstorm strategies for coping with distractions or for when they have difficulty with an assignment. Examples might include: telling yourself to stay out of it, ignoring people who are talking to you, ask someone else for help, etc.

Describe the Appropriate Behavior

1. Look at your task or assignment.
2. Think about the steps needed to complete the task.
3. Focus all of your attention on the task.
4. Stop working only when instructed.
5. Ignore distractions and interruptions from others.

• Note: This is a very wordy one, for younger kiddos especially and maybe the older ones too, you might shorten it and just use the last three steps, just make sure you are consistent every time with the language.
  

Give a Reason

• You don't interrupt others who are trying to work.
• The teacher might get to your more quickly if he/she sees you are trying to complete your work.
• You are more likely to complete your work and not have homework.

Practice

• Have partners practice the steps of the skill
• Practice building stamina (see below)

Journaling

• Write about a time you were on task and others were trying to distract you.
• Write about a time when you did not stay on task but you should have. What was the outcome?

Discussion about options for when they don't understand and assignment or have questions after the teacher has asked them to stay on task:

• Skip the question and go back to it later
• "Ask three before me"
• Allow students to work with an assigned "buddy" if the teacher is not available (ex: teacher is working with students during guided reading)
• Have an alternate task or book to read until the teacher can help so others are not being distracted from their work

Role Play

• The teacher is helping another student with his/her work and you don't understand how to work the next math problem
• Students are taking a test and some finish before the time is up
• A student comes to the door and calls out to someone in the class to come out in the hallway and talk
• The principal comes in the classroom to speak to the teacher
• As the teacher is giving instructions, a student talks to you and tries to get you involved in a conversation

Preventive Prompts

• There are many times during the day when you can prompt students that they are going to need to stay on task. Prompt students to repeat the steps of the skill to you or review the steps with them prior to using the skill.

Feedback

• Praise specific steps followed and give feedback on areas of improvement
• Let students know you will be watching in order to "catch them" using the skill
• Continue to praise and re-teach as needed

Assistant Principal

Monon Trail Elementary School

Email: darnellh@wws.k12.in.us
Location: 19400 Tomlinson Road, Westfield, IN, United States
Phone: 317-867-8600
Twitter: @HetherDarnell