ABSTRACT
Tactical ignoring is a useful strategy that can be used when responding to certain challenging behaviours that are displayed simply as a means of gaining attention. It is a useful skill for teachers to develop because it avoids being reeled into situations that really do not justify the amount of time that may otherwise be spent on dealing with them. Students should always be given time to comply with instructions. Many adults simply do not give young people sufficient time to respond to requests. This can lead the teacher to invading the student's personal space, repeating the instruction louder than is really necessary and then remaining in the same space, waiting for the student to comply. The teacher's job, as the role model, is to allow the student time and to be clear about the behaviour that is expected in the classroom.
