Cooperative Discipline:
Attention Seeking
Look at me!
Attention Seeking
“Some students choose misbehavior
to get extra attention. They want to
be center stage at all times and
constantly distract the teacher and
their classmates to gain an
audience.”
Albert, 1996
What are the factors that cause
a student to act this way?
• Extra attention
• Need attention to feel
important.
• They are “little” actors and
actresses.
• Youngsters usually seek adult
attention.
• Teenagers seek peer attention.
What’s wrong with
wanting attention?
Attention seeking can
lead to:
• Risky behaviors in
adolescents
– Sexual promiscuity
– Alcohol and drug use
– Suicidal thoughts and actions
• Feeling of inadequacy
and low self-esteem
2 Forms of Attention Seeking
•Active
•Passive
Active Type
Uses attention-getting mechanisms
that disrupt class.
Sticking out tongue
Tapping pencils
Trips classmates
Constantly pleads for help
Grooming in class
Passes notes
Passive Type
Attention getting mechanisms
rarely disrupt the class.
Water torture techniques.
Small things that grow into
mountains.
Often uses the slow,
slower, slowest
strategy.
Identifying AttentionSeeking Behaviors
Attention Clue 1:
When confronted with attentionseeking behavior, we generally feel
irritated and annoyed. The needle
on our emotional pressure gauge
registers “mild”.
Identifying AttentionSeeking Behaviors
Attention Clue 2:
We typically react by nagging,
reminding, cajoling and scolding.
Sometimes we take over and do for
the child what they should
be doing.
Origins of Attention-Seeking
Behaviors
• Rewards
• Not knowing how to ask for
what they want
• Contributing Factors (home life)
• Legitimate Needs
Principles of Prevention
1. Catch them being good.
2. Teach them to ask for
attention.
Attention Interventions
Strategy 1: Minimize the attention
Refuse to respond
Give the “teacher eye”
Stand close by
Use name dropping techniques
Use non-verbal clues or secret signals
Use an I message relating your feelings
Strategy 2: Clarify Desired Behavior
1. State Grandma’s Law….”First you work, then
we play.”
2. Use the Target-Stop-Do strategy…..”Luciano,
stop talking to Bend, face me, and see if you
can find a solution to problem 3 on the
board.”
Strategy 3: Legitimize the Behavior
1. Create an “on the spot” lesson from the
misbehavior that turns the problem into
“work”.
2. Extend the behavior to its most extreme
form.
Strategy 4: Do the Unexpected
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Turn out the lights.
Play a musical sound.
Lower your voice.
Change your voice.
Talk to the wall.
Use one-liners.
Cease teaching.
Strategy 5: Distract
1. Ask a direct question with their name
and put them on the spot.
2. Ask a favor.
3. Give choices.
4. Change the activity and
use the element of surprise.
Strategy 6: Move the Student
Attention-seekers like an audience.
1. Change the student’s seat.
2. Use the Thinking Chair or isolation area.
Let’s Practice!
In groups of 2 or 3, practice using
these strategies to reduce
misbehavior.
– Minimize the problem
– Legitimize the problem
– Do the unexpected
– Distract the student