ATTENTION SEEKING

Sometimes these types of students can make you feel annoyed and irritated. Their bucket has a hole in it. No matter how much attention you give them, it is never enough.

Know that he/she wants your approval. They just do not know how to get it in appropriate ways.

-Cindy Jones

(Bureau of Education & Research, 2019)

1. Praise publicly
2. Correct privately
3. Have the student sit in the front or in the middle
4. Give the student attention "up front"

• Minimize the attention
• Distract the student
• Clarify desired behavior
• Notice appropriate behavior
• Move the student away from the other Attention Seeking students
• Use peer pressure. Put the student in a group and allow them to earn privileges for the group
• Send a secret signal
• Have the class give the student an affirmation when they are being appropriate
• Don't say the student's name when correcting them
• Give the student a silly job to do when they finish their work (EX: Trash Stomper or Feather Duster)
• Let them be the "Door Greeter" with you

Sometimes a student will say something to get a rise out of you. When verbally intervening, do not get into a power struggle.

Power struggles tend to damage relationships and escalate the situation. REPEAT whatever phrase you choose.

"Thanks for noticing."

"Thanks for sharing that."

"That's an interesting point."

"Hmmmmm...." (nod your head)

"I'll be interested to see how that works out for you."

"I hear what you are saying."

"You got me! Can we move on now?"

"That's possible. Let's talk about it later."

"Oh no. That's never good."

"I respect you too much to argue."

"I like you too much to argue."

"You must be really angry to say that. We'll talk about it in a minute."

"It's ok to be mad. It's not ok to say that. We will talk about other ways to let me know you are mad without using those words."