How do you control the kid who asks all the off-topic questions?

Question

I find it really hard to punish this kid because all he's doing is raising his hand to ask questions. But its question after question after question and it gets in the way of my teaching. For example I'll being going over instructions to an assignment and he'll start asking all these questions about it when I haven't gotten a chance to explain it yet! But I can't really punish him. What do I do?

He is in 8th grade.

Answer 1

In my classroom they understand the " three times" rule...

1. the time to listen
2. the time to think about what they've heard
3. the time to question

I am in charge of # 1... they are not allowed to interrupt then. During #2, there is a two minute silence so they can think and formulate questions and then there is # 3 ... they have the right to question and even argue or demand more explanation... whatever.

You are right... no child learns with constant interruptions, so this is just one way to monitor this without giving the impression that his opinion is not important. But like all children, he needs to learn that he does not have the right to just blurt out whenever he feels like it. I teach teenagers... and believe me, they have opinions about everything !!! And while I do value those opinions, they need to learn to be good listeners before they can become good speakers.

Answer 2

Ahh... This used to be me in school (still is, to tell the truth). First, if he raises your hand while you're giving directions, calmly say "Hands down until I'm done explaining this" and keep on talking. Then, at the end of the explaination, give a moment to let people ask questions. For other times, you can say something like "That's a good question, but let's get back to this. *reinsert original topic here*." If you don't want to publicly embarrass him (again, that depends on what the student's like), quietly pull him aside before or after class one day and explain to him that his questions, although interesting, sometimes take away from the discussion of the topic. I know in my case this often let the penny drop that often the other students weren't following what I was thinking. You could also explain to him that you'd like him to practice trying to focus his thoughts on finding interesting questions on the topic at hand, which was something that I had problems with at that age. Yes, he may see the reasoning behind the tangent, but if he can figure out a way to lead the other students to the reasoning in such a way that he's not going off topic, he'll be a lot better off for when he gets into high school next year.

Answer 3

This is what my teacher does, and i think it's brilliant. When the kid asks an off topic question, just say "We don't have time for that question right now, but you can come after class if you would like to dicuss it." Obviously the kid doesn't want to spend extra time in school (assuming he's trying to take up time by asking questions) so problems solved.
If he's just not waiting to hear instructions, make a hand gesture and say something along the lines of "ask questions after i finish explaining the assignment" This usually works and remember, you do have the power to punish someone who is interrupting not only you, but the learning of other students in the class. If possible, you should tell him that as well, because it clearly demonstrates that you're a caring teacher but simply can't waste others' time answering useless questions.

Answer 4

I am teaching eighth grade this year, and you CAN punish him--maybe not a severely though.

At this age, kids are just trying to find themselves. The kid is probably not even aware what he is doing--let alone that is bothering you.

I would a quick chat session with the kid and make him aware what he is doing and explain that it is bothering you. When it continues, signal him to let him aware he is doing it again.

If it still continues after some time, then he is doing it to upset you and call his family.

Regardless, three Popsicle sticks or twenty tickets is not going to work in eighth grade--and putting him in charge of the dictionary may result in one less dictionary.

Good Luck....

Answer 5

This is what I do with my questioning 8 yr old .. I give her a pack of 20 homemade "tickets", and every time she asks me a question, sh has to hand me a ticket. When they're gone, they're gone, until the next time I give her some. You could give this student 5 tickets a day. Or you could buy him a few books to read on he things he's most interested in. Mayb you could start a peer group for students so they can ask and answer each others' questions.

Answer 6

One possible practice might be to have students keep an "Ah-Ha" journal. They are to write down observations, connections and questions they have during lecture or discussion. At the conclusion of class or on a designated day have students share something they have written down. If you have all students doing this, then the curious student is not singled out, but he is also not monopolizing the class time.

Answer 7

You don't mention the age group.

Obviously he is curious. Make his curiosity work for the group. If they don't have the same questions, they should... or eventually may have.

Put him in charge of the dictionary.

Soon he'll be able to find his own answers and report to the class. He can make his reports...not as he finds them but at a designated time...once per day or once per week, depending on him and he inquisitive he is.

This can obviosly be expanded to other reference sources if need be.

Answer 8

3 popsicle sticks. 3 questions. Once the sticks are gone the q & a is over for the kid. He'll learn to make them good questions. You may choose to give them back for the next lesson. This has been tried and has been effective for me.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

When they're that old, you can be sort of hard on them. Just ask him "How does that relate to our discussion? and while he's thinking move on. I'm an 8th grader who, honestly, likes to ask questions off topic. But my teacher told me that once and I got the hint and I don't anymore.