Behaviour Management Tips
Imagine how much easier your teaching role would be if you were able to set standards for appropriate behaviour from the start of the year?
Here, we have listed a number of tips that we feel will help you to manage behaviour in the class, whether you are a Teacher or Support Staff:
Make sure you are familiar with the behaviour policies and ethos of the school
Build relationships with students, while staying calm and consistent
Establish clear boundaries and expectations with your class early on to limit the chances of the behaviour escalating.
When the students arrive to the classroom, greet them with positivity
Address these behaviours early on:
Talking when teacher/others are talking
Fiddling with equipment (pen tapping etc.) Heads on desks
Not looking at the teacher when they are talking
Carrying on with work when told to stop
Hands in pockets
Sitting back on two legs of the chair
Turning around to talk to others
Some more tips:
Introduce a tactical pause when you notice low-level behaviours. This is for you to stop whatever you are saying or doing, until those behaviours subside.
When giving an instruction, say thank you rather than please. This puts you in a position of authority as it implies that you know they will follow instructions and are thanking them in advance.
Have the students take responsibility for their own actions, ask the class to reflect on their own behaviour during that given task or lesson.
Reach out to parents to discuss how the student is getting on at home – this could also help to get an understanding on where the behaviour may stem from.
If you make a mistake – apologise! Remember that you are modelling appropriate behaviour for your students.
Set clear expectations, and stick to them. Along with this, make sure that you take time to continually reinforce and highlight those expectations.
Lastly, make sure you are providing praise. You still want the class to be a positive environment to support their learning, and for students to feel appreciated.