Bill Rogers' - on the spot strategies#

Rogers (2005), p. 95

Discipline is effectively leading, guiding and teaching children to own (and be responsible for) their behaviour in the context of respecting others’ rights (Rogers 1998). The elements of effective and positive discipline involves a challenging balance between prevention, correction, encouragement, support and repairing and rebuilding. ([Rogers, 2005, p. 95]

Gain attention, pause and then give a direction

Use a brief, sharp attention-getting tone, then drop to a normal/assertive tone. Perhaps describe what you are seeing before giving a behavioural direction.
Don’t ask ‘why questions‘ – when dealing with small misbehaviours
Use partial agreement (maybe-but) to stop conversations going off on a tangent
Use conditional permission (when-then) when students ask to do something
Give students a forced choice when a direction has been ignored
Approaching a student side-on may be seen as less threatening

Avoid saying please, instead say thank you

References#

Rogers, B. (2005). Behaviour Recovery: Practical Programs for Challenging Behaviour. ACER Press.