The PBIS World Book

Call On Student Frequently

Why should I do it:

  • Increases students’ attention and focus
  • Keeps students on task
  • Helps students attend better
  • Can boost students confidence
  • Can reduce unwanted behaviors and distractions
  • Can reduce talking and off task behaviors
  • Can increase student’s interest in the topic or task at hand

When should I do it:

  • When a student has difficulty with attention, focus, and remaining on task
  • With a talkative or chatty class, group of students, or an individual student
  • With classes or students that do not participate due to off task behaviors
  • With students misbehaving or being distracting
  • With students who make noises
  • With students who seem unengaged or disinterested

How do I do it:

  • You may use a system, like names in a hat, sticks with names, etc, or randomly call on students
  • Frequently call on students or groups of students that are off task, misbehaving, being distracting, etc.
  • Do not call on students who may be withdrawn or isolated due to anxiety about being called on or pointed out in front of the class without setting up a plan with that student first
    • With such students, you may set up a cue the student can give you when they want to be called on to answer a question or a cue the teacher will give prior to calling on them so they can prepare