The Impact of Removing Distractions

Step 1: Teacher Arthur notices his student, Paul, is playing with a small toy during his maths lesson. He also sees that other students sitting near Paul are becoming distracted by the toy.

Step 2: Arthur quietly moves towards Paul and removes the toy from his desk. He places the toy in his pocket and continues teaching.

Step 4: After the lesson, Arthur pulls Paul aside and hands him back the toy. He tells him that he understands the toy is important to Paul but a maths lesson is not the time to play with it. He instructs Paul to put the toy into his backpack until it is time for recess.

Step 3: Paul and the students around him glance at each other but then return their focus to Arthur’s lesson. Arthur removed the distraction in a calm, non-punitive way.