Student Contributor: A. Bonnington
Touch interference is a nonverbal way of communicating to a student that a behavior isn’t correct. This tool is a good way to prevent embarrassment by avoiding putting them on blast in the middle of the lesson.
Touch interference is used to communicate by simply touching the student on the hand letting them know that the disruptive behavior is not appropriate. This tool is most effective when the teacher shows them the appropriate. This is a nonaggressive contact with the student on their shoulder by a simple touch. This tool should be used after less disruptive tools have been attempted. Something to keep in mind with this tool is that not all student’s like to be touched, so know your student’s. This does not imply that the student has a history of being abused. This is a very powerful tool especially in elementary but mostly early elementary like k-2 as the older student’s get the less they want to be touched. The physical touch can help a student relax and develop a healthy environment for them.
This tool best fits in the corrective phase as you are reacting to a disapproved behavior and when possible, directing them to the approved behavior. This tool is also after the behavior has already happened, so it isn’t preventative. This isn’t a tool you would use to support the student per se as you are correcting their behavior, not supporting it. Touch interference is teacher directed and collaborative because the teacher will be the one to approach the student and use the tool. The student would react to the tool and correct their behavior. This is where I thought collaboration played a part as the teacher and student can decide the best corrective actions that follow the touch interference and what is expected of the student.
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Tool Source: Gus Nollmeyer
