What is an important practice when addressing attention-seeking behaviors?

Providing praise when the student is on-task is an essential practice when addressing attention-seeking behaviors. This approach reinforces positive behavior by acknowledging and rewarding the desired action, which in turn encourages the student to engage in more on-task behavior. Positive reinforcement helps to diminish the frequency of attention-seeking behaviors because the student learns that staying focused and behaving appropriately will garner attention and approval from caregivers or educators.

The strategy of praising on-task behavior is foundational in behavior management, particularly for students who may display attention-seeking behaviors as a way to gain notice from adults or peers. When a student receives praise for focusing on their work, it shifts the attention away from the undesired behaviors and creates a supportive environment where the student feels encouraged to participate positively.

The other options do not effectively address the underlying motivation behind attention-seeking behaviors. Ignoring the student may lead to frustration or escalate the behaviors rather than providing constructive support. Focusing on negative behaviors can contribute to an adversarial dynamic that discourages positive growth, and rewarding only academic performance overlooks the importance of reinforcing overall positive engagement and social behaviors.