Listen to your teacher and follow instructions. If you want to behave better in class, the first place to look for help is your teacher. [2] X Expert Source César de León, M. Ed. Educational Leadership Consultant Expert Interview. 11 November 2020. Always do what the teacher tells you during class time. Listen closely to your teacher’s instructions, when they tell you to be quiet, to start or stop working, to line up, or do anything else. If you listen the first time, you likely will not have to ask later. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/79/Behave-In-Class-Step-2-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Behave-In-Class-Step-2-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/79/Behave-In-Class-Step-2-Version-2. jpg/aid84156-v4-728px-Behave-In-Class-Step-2-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Be quiet. Typically, any time after class has started, it is time to be quiet. Save the things you want to say to your friends for later. If you have a question about an assignment, raise your hand when appropriate to ask, write it down to yourself and ask the teacher later. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/f/ff/Behave-In-Class-Step-4-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Behave-In-Class-Step-4-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/f/ff/Behave-In-Class-Step-4-Version-2. jpg/aid84156-v4-728px-Behave-In-Class-Step-4-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Avoid sitting with friends that get you in trouble. One of the common ways a student gets loud and disruptive is talking with friends. Sit up front to avoid the temptation to chat during class if you can. There’s plenty of time to socialize at recess and lunch and after school. It’s also good to avoid bullies and “fr-enemies” other people who can tempt you into misbehavior. (You can talk to your teacher about this, and maybe pretend that you “have to” sit where you do, to take social pressure off of you. ) {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/e/e7/Behave-In-Class-Step-3-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Behave-In-Class-Step-3-Version-2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/e/e7/Behave-In-Class-Step-3-Version-2. jpg/aid84156-v4-728px-Behave-In-Class-Step-3-Version-2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Be on time. You need to be in the building when school starts, and you need to be in your seat when class starts. If you’re struggling to make it to class on time, looking into time organization skills, material organization skills, and figuring out how much time you really need for transitions.

Have something specific and brief to say, so you’re not wasting class time rambling. The most appropriate time to raise your hand and speak is when you have a question that other students might have, as well. “What pages are we supposed to read for tomorrow?” and “How do you find the lowest common denominator?” are both appropriate questions. Inappropriate questions include things that are particular only to you, or things that are off-topic. “Why did I get a D?” or “What do you think of LeBron James, Miss Johnson?” are probably both inappropriate (albeit maybe interesting or funny) questions for class. If you want to talk to your teacher about these things, write down your question, and wait until after class.

Don’t work on homework for other classes during work time, unless you’ve been given permission. If you’re given time to work on a group project, don’t withdraw from the group and sit working on your math homework. You’re wasting work time, and the time of others.

If you’ve got a reputation as a trouble-maker, many teachers will be impressed if you’re sincere about wanting to be better in class. Making the effort to talk to your teacher is a good first step in changing the way your teacher looks at you. Get to know your teacher! Your teacher is a person–not just a teacher! He or she has interests, feelings, and opinions. Getting to know your teacher as an individual may make it easier to listen and respond to him or her. Also, your teacher may get to know you as a person, too! This rapport can make working together a lot easier.

Charter schools, challenge programs, and other kinds of alternatives may be a better fit for you, if you’re struggling with your behavior. Talk to your parents about the possibility of switching schools. If your parents are unwilling to listen, talk to a guidance counselor at your current school about the possibilities.

Don’t “do your math,” pretend to be a rocket scientist learning to plot the paths of rockets, or an astronaut trying to plot your course home from the planet Zebulon 4. Pretend that you’re Albert Einstein, cracking the secrets of nuclear energy. Don’t “practice handwriting,” pretend that you’re translating secret messages from a mysterious government agency, or that you’re learning to speak Klingon. Don’t “do your reading,” imagine that you’re a famous author preparing to give a lecture in front of a crowd of adoring fans, or that you’re a supercomputer uploading information into its positronic net.

Taking notes can also help you improve your handwriting, which can help your grades improve and your relationship with your teacher a lot better. No one wants to read chicken-scratches. Don’t worry about listening to the whole lesson at once, just focus on catching the next important thing the teacher says. Go one step at a time.

The textbook or books for the specific class A pencil, ink pen, or other writing utensil Enough loose paper or notebook paper to take notes or complete an assignment A folder or binder for class materials Your homework, fully completed

If you’re struggling, find out about tutoring or homework help available at your school. Many schools have free tutoring programs after school that are available to students who want to improve their grades and get a little help, which everybody needs sometimes.

The class clowns will always stand out, but that doesn’t mean that these students are the best kind of friends you could make. Look to the quiet kids and try to hang out at recess, or sit with someone you don’t normally talk to during lunch to find out if you get along. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends that you can’t sit next to them because you don’t want to get in trouble. If your friends are true friends, they’ll understand your desire to avoid getting into trouble and support you. Sit still. But if you want to behave in class, it’s very important that you learn to relax and pay attention to stay on task. The best way to do this is to focus on sitting still. Don’t fidget, mess around with the items in your desk, or bother your neighbors. Just sit quietly and listen to the lesson.

The class clowns will always stand out, but that doesn’t mean that these students are the best kind of friends you could make. Look to the quiet kids and try to hang out at recess, or sit with someone you don’t normally talk to during lunch to find out if you get along. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends that you can’t sit next to them because you don’t want to get in trouble. If your friends are true friends, they’ll understand your desire to avoid getting into trouble and support you. Sit still. But if you want to behave in class, it’s very important that you learn to relax and pay attention to stay on task. The best way to do this is to focus on sitting still. Don’t fidget, mess around with the items in your desk, or bother your neighbors. Just sit quietly and listen to the lesson.

Ask your parents to join up with a sports team or other club if you want to have something to do after school. Chess clubs, music clubs, and lots of organizations are available to students looking to get involved and stay busy having fun outside of school.

A sleep study at the Harvard Medical School concluded that more sleep means better memory retention. [7] X Research source After being asked to memorize a series of random words, respondents who slept more the night before scored more highly on the test. If you want to improve your behavior and your grades, get more rest. Don’t keep your cellphone next to your bed. Lots of kids–up to 10% according to the National Sleep Study–are awakened regularly and distracted in the middle of the night by their friends or parents texts or Facebook updates on cellphones, making it difficult to settle down and fall asleep. If you’re struggling with tiredness throughout the day, keep your cell phone out of reach. [8] X Research source

Falling glucose levels are linked directly to a release in adrenaline, meaning that when your blood sugar dips, your body makes up for it hormonally by running on more adrenaline, making you more irritable and restless. [9] X Research source Try to avoid candy and soda during lunch. Getting all geared-up on sugar means you’ll crash in a few hours, making it very difficult to behave in the afternoon. If you don’t like the meals at school, take some time in the morning to pack a good lunch that you’ll enjoy eating. Try to eat some fresh fruit and vegetables, like apples, carrot sticks, or other healthy snacks you enjoy eating.