The Impact of Not Removing Distractions

The Impact of Not Removing Distractions

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

Step 2: Jonathan notices Paul’s toy and asks if he can also play with it. Now, two of Arthur’s students are distracted from his lesson.  

Step 3: Rather than removing the toy, Arthur verbally addresses the two students and tells Paul to put the toy in his desk. He proceeds with the lesson but notices Paul playing with the toy on his desk. Arthur stops again to verbally direct Paul to stop playing with the toy.  

Step 4: After the lesson, students needed to complete independent work on the lesson. It became evident quickly that Paul and the students sitting around him did not have as firm a grasp on the content as the rest of the students in the class. Arthur then needed to reteach this lesson.