Rethinking Classroom Behavior: Why Instructional Excellence is the Ultimate Behavior Management Tool
Season 4 of The Flip Side podcast, recorded live at the Get Your Teach On conference in Las Vegas, brings together passionate educators to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in education: classroom behavior. In this episode, Get Your Teach On’s Hope King and guest Andre Deshotel, a seasoned educator from Louisiana, dive deep into the real roots of behavior issues and offer actionable, research-backed strategies for teachers everywhere.
The Real Roots of Classroom Behavior
Let’s face it: behavior is the number one challenge teachers report. But what if most of what we call “behavior problems” are actually instructional problems in disguise?
Andre Deshotel, drawing on his years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, challenges the traditional narrative. He and the host argue that:
Students rarely wake up wanting to disrupt class.
Disruptive behaviors often signal unmet needs—whether basic (food, rest, safety) or instructional (clarity, engagement, accessibility).
Exclusionary discipline (sending students out) often worsens learning gaps and behavior cycles.
Key Takeaway:
“The more we get kids talking about the learning, the less they talk over the learning.”
— Andre Deshotel
Mindset Shift: From Discipline to Design
The episode’s central theme is a powerful reframe:
Behavior challenges are often instructional challenges.
Instead of defaulting to new behavior systems or punitive measures, the hosts urge teachers to:
Reflect on their instructional practices. Design classroom conditions that foster clarity, structure, predictability, and emotional safety.
See behavior as feedback—a signal that something in the learning environment needs adjustment.
This isn’t about blaming teachers or students. It’s about empowering educators to become “instructional scientists”—observing, hypothesizing, and adjusting to create classrooms where all students can thrive.
Actionable Strategies to Transform Your Classroom
Let’s break down the episode’s most valuable, in-depth tips—each packed with practical advice and expert insights.
1. Make Learning Active and Visible
Why it matters:
Passive learning breeds disengagement and low-level disruptions. When students are actively involved, they’re less likely to act out.
How to do it:
Turn-and-Talks:
Regularly pause instruction and have students discuss a prompt with a partner. This leverages their natural need for socialization and movement.
Choral Responses:
Use call-and-response or group answers to keep everyone engaged.
Notice and Wonder:
Invite students to share observations and questions about new material, making them co-constructors of knowledge.
Brain Dumps:
After a lesson segment, ask students to write or share everything they remember—this keeps them processing and participating.
Expert Insight:
“The longer we talk, the more kids we lose.”
— Mentor advice shared by Andre
Action Step:
Audit your lessons: Are students talking about the learning, or are you doing most of the talking? Shift the balance!
2. Prioritize Clarity and Accessibility
Why it matters:
Unclear directions or inaccessible content are major triggers for off-task behavior and shutdowns.
How to do it:
Explicit Expectations:
Clearly state what students should do during transitions, group work, and independent tasks.
Modeling:
Demonstrate tasks step-by-step, using think-alouds and visual aids.
Check for Understanding:
Use quick formative checks (thumbs up/down, exit tickets) to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Scaffold Tasks:
Break complex assignments into manageable chunks, providing support at each step.
Expert Insight:
“Academic language can feel like a foreign language to students.”
— Andre Deshotel
Action Step:
Before assigning work, ask yourself: Have I made the task and its language accessible to all students?
3. Meet Students’ Basic and Emotional Needs
Why it matters:
Students can’t learn if they’re hungry, tired, or emotionally dysregulated. These unmet needs often manifest as behavior issues.
How to do it:
Soft Starts:
Begin the day with low-stakes, welcoming activities (puzzles, games, breakfast) to ease students into learning.
Routine and Predictability:
Consistent schedules and rituals help students feel safe and ready to engage.
Check-Ins:
Greet students at the door, notice changes in mood, and offer support as needed.
Expert Insight:
“Teaching has evolved from delivering content to designing the conditions for learning.”
— Hope King
Action Step:
Build in time for connection and check-ins, especially at the start of the day or class period.
4. Regulate Yourself to Regulate Your Class
Why it matters:
Students mirror the emotional state of adults. Dysregulated teachers can unintentionally escalate situations.
How to do it:
Self-Awareness:
Notice your own stress signals (breathing, tone, body language).
Take Breaks:
Use systems like “code yellow” (an administrator steps in so you can reset) when you feel overwhelmed
Model Calm:
Practice and demonstrate self-regulation strategies (deep breathing, positive self-talk).
Expert Insight:
“Regulated adults foster regulated students.”
— Andre Deshotel
Action Step:
Develop a personal regulation plan—know your triggers and have strategies ready.
5. Build Connection and Community
Why it matters:
Disruptive behaviors often stem from a lack of connection to peers, content, or the teacher.
How to do it:
Relationship-Building:
Learn about students’ interests, strengths, and backgrounds.
Peer Collaboration:
Use group work and partner activities to foster belonging.
Celebrate Success:
Recognize effort and growth, not just compliance.
Expert Insight:
“Many disruptions are attempts to connect socially when students feel disconnected.”
— Andre Deshotel
Action Step:
Intentionally plan for community-building activities, especially early in the year.
6. Persist and Adapt: The Power of Consistency
Why it matters:
Lasting change comes from consistent, strategic practice—not one-off interventions or flashy gimmicks.
How to do it:
Stick With Strategies:
Don’t abandon a new approach after one try. Give it time and tweak as needed.
Reflect and Adjust:
Regularly review what’s working and what’s not. Involve students in the process.
Collaborate:
Seek support from colleagues, coaches, and administrators. Share successes and challenges.
Expert Insight:
“Success comes from persistence and adapting strategies to fit the unique needs of each group of students.”
— Hope King
Action Step:
Choose one new instructional strategy to implement consistently for at least three weeks. Track the impact on behavior and engagement.
Encouragement for Educators: Reclaim Your Power
You may not be able to change the entire system overnight, but you are the system in your classroom. The power to create a positive, productive learning environment is in your hands.
Reflect without judgment.
Growth starts with honest self-assessment
