Photo by: gemteck1
Gents - Pay attention to rule number 8!
Ten top tips for behaviour management in the classroom.
Tip 1
Right at the beginning, behaviour/classroom management starts with you. If you know what you want your lessons to be like, and also what you don’t want, you are in a good position to start with a clear set of expectations.
Read more about the value of pupil expectations here.
Tip 2
Your kids are not mind readers. Unless you tell them of your rules and expectations there gonna have to learn the hard way and that adds to your grief. Why not train your class from the beginning by telling and showing them without doubt what you want from them. High expectations can bring out the best in all of us. In life you often get what you are prepared to settle with. Why not put up a poster showing the main rules of your class room. It can be a handy aid to reinforce your wishes and remind the students. Rules that cover general school policy and any health and safety issues need to be addressed.
Read more …..
Tip 3
Learn their names. You will get to know the bad behaved kids names really quick but what about all the kids who get on with their work. Using kids name helps to get their attention, lets them know that you value them (at least enough to got their name), and goes along way to improving behaviour of the ones who hide behind anonymity. Make sure it’s the right name! If you call them the wrong name, apologise and move on before it becomes an issue.
Start with a seating plan and tick off their names as you get to know them. You could set a target to learn a couple of new names each lesson. It will come in handy at parent evenings and report time.
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Tip 4
Use praise when praise is due. If the kids do what you want them to do, it should get some positive reinforcement. Say well done, great, good job etc. Don’t praise if you don’t mean it and do not reward bad behaviour.
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Tip 5
Have some clear cut rules in place and if they are not followed you need to b e prepared to back them up. Try not to make rules and threats if you are not going to follow them though. Its best to act quickly when things are not going how you want but remember to keep your behaviour in perspective as an over reaction can blow up in your face.
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Tip 6
If behaviour starts to move towards what you don’t want have a number of strategies that you can fall back on to deal with the issue with minimal disruption to the learning of the class. Low level disruption can often be sorted quickly but more serious problems might need some extra help. In school you should not feel that you are alone and if you need backup it should be there. Placing a kid at the back of a college’s lesson can be a quick way to remove a problem without resorting to calling SMT for help.
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Tip 7
Classroom layout. - Make sure your class is laid out in such a way to improve behaviour and stimulate learning. Think about how you’re going to arrange the desks and seats. Where is your area going to be? What displays and resources can you use to create a stimulating learning environment?
Tip 8
Have your lesson objectives clear for your students. Write them on the board or get the kids to put down at the beginning – by the end of this lesson I will have learned……(write bteotliwhl in the corner of the board for short).
These clear objectives provide a guide to what you want to achieve and can be the basis of the lesson structure. A map on the board can help to show the kids where you are going with the lesson.
Tip 9
Get to know your pupils. One of the ways that I have managed to survive with some of my roughest classes is that I took some time to look beyond their bad behaviour and find out about them as individuals. Most people only want someone to talk to and feel that someone is listening. Once you get talking you will find out lots of things about your pupils and you start to build a positive relationship that you can call upon at time when you want the kid to listen to you and follow your instructions. It’s called having some mutual respect.
Tip 10
Try to put some humour into your lesson. Its surprising how much can be achieved by an entertaining story or joke. It also can make the class see that you are also human and not just a teacher.
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If you want to read my routine for new classes in September…Click here
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