Pay Attention To How They Are Behaving

(I have been struggling with a student who has been off task and disruptive nearly every day. On this particular day, I’ve had enough.)

Me: “There are only fifteen minutes left in class. I’m really going to need you to be quiet so we can get this done.”

Student: “Why are you even talking to me? I wasn’t doing nothing.”

Me: “Exactly. You’ve been doing nothing for 45 minutes while the rest of us have been working.”

Student: “Nu-uh. Come and look at my paper. I have everything written down.”

Me: “Great. So, why don’t you go ahead and explain how we got the answer to part A?”

Student: “I didn’t say I was paying attention. I said I was behaving. There’s a difference!”