Class-wide, individual and personal strategies for improving behaviour
Last week, I asked you to appraise where you were in terms of behaviour management. I said that one of the keys to improving behaviour is having a clear idea of your current level of expertise.
This week, I’ve got some tips to get you to the next level. I’ve split them in to three areas.
Class-wide strategies:
- Visualising your behavioural expectations
- Establishing simple ground rules and explaining why we need them
- Teaching simple routines
- Use of class-wide rewards (See the 50 Minute Behaviour Course for more details)
- Being unemotional
- Behavioural narration – “Thanks for … “
- Using specific language for classroom routines
- Not wasting words
- Hierarchy of consequences
- Giving warnings and repeating the instruction
Individual pupil strategies
- Inserting name/pause
- Proximity praise
- Reminding about rules instead of investigating
- Contacting home with good news
- Contacting home to say you’ll be ringing home next week with an update
- Being consistent
Personal strategies
- Reflecting on your success
- Using a checklist – like this one!
- Having reasonable and accurate expectations of success. We often get put off an exercise routine or weight-loss plan because we don’t see the benefits quickly enough. Don’t fall in to this trap with behaviour management!
Improving behaviour takes time
Take just one or two of these points and try to focus on them for a day.
Small steps are better steps.
