Classroom management

Start the new school year with an effective communication system

September doesn’t just mark the beginning of a new school year: it also means the start of new working relationships, new environments and new challenges. Clear communication between colleagues and students can provide a strong basis for effective behaviour management and proactive teaching, explains Dave Stott

How to deliver CPD on tackling off-task behaviour in lesson

Low-level disruption can greatly impede students’ progress. Josephine Smith outlines a CPD session to help teachers in your school improve their behaviour management

Relax, recharge and organise for next term

The beginning of the summer break can often mean one thing: forgetting all about school until September. But if you can learn to manage your own behaviour effectively during this time, you will be better prepared to manage students’ behaviour next term

Using responsibility to improve behaviour

It’s often seen as simply a reward or a punishment, so how can giving responsibility to students be used to improve behaviour?

How is appropriate behaviour taught in your school?

This issue of Behaviour Matters looks at the benefits of the specific teaching of behaviour, using the same approaches as for any other area of the school curriculum

Not disruptive, but not on task

How can you make positive changes to the behaviour of pupils who are not disruptive but are not engaged with the learning process?

Using motivational interviewing techniques to promote behaviour change

Tina Rae discusses how to use the technique of motivational interviewing (MI) to trigger behaviour change in students. MI accepts that students may not always be ready or willing to modify their behaviour, so focuses on exploring ambivalence before change

Dealing with the ‘significant minority’ of poorly-behaved students

‘Significant minority’ is an often-used phrase describing small groups of student who have negative influences on the behaviour of others. How can schools prevent this occurring, and how can they prevent the minority becoming a majority?

Dealing with students who answer back

The Easter break from school and the change of circumstances can mean, for many students, problems in settling back in to the expectations of the classroom. Dave Stott takes a close look at teaching techniques to reduce the incidence of answering back and arguing

How can ‘time out’ benefit students’ behaviour?

‘Time out’ should be more than just a sanction. How can we help students who are required to spend periods outside the classroom use this time to make positive changes in their behaviour? Dave Stott looks at the systems schools need to have in place

Encourage good behaviour with effective student-teacher relationships

We can have a positive effect on students’ behaviour by demonstrating a sense of fairness and consistency and taking time to chat to them outside the classroom, says Dave Stott

Improve your behaviour management with pupil evaluation

Tips on how to solicit and apply feedback/evaluation from pupils to improve behaviour management

Too many rules

This ezine is a reminder to review the number of rules you expect students to comply with, how they are put into practice, and how effective they seem to b

Threat or sanction?

Effective behaviour management policies and strategies are based on clarity, inevitability and consistency. This article draws attention to the problem of not meaning what you say when implementing policy

Using a points system to manage behaviour

This ezine is a reminder of the possible benefits, and also the problems, of using a structured points system when managing student behaviour. It shows how points systems can be effective on a schoolwide basis, for smaller teaching groups and also for individual students

Benefits of having flexibility to planned lessons

How able or prepared are you to allow reluctant and disengaged learners to change the planned activity? This article highlights how having alternatives to planned lessons can reduce the chances of students developing and escalating confrontations

Demonstrating fairness, consistency and accountability in the classroom

Justifying your actions or decisions is an essential part of effective behaviour management. So how do you demonstrate fairness and consistency in the teaching and learning environment?

Using verbal reinforcement to improve behaviour

Today’s article is a reminder that your classroom rules, boundaries and expectations can be reinforced through careful use of language in verbal instructions, rewards and sanctions

Recording progress with behaviour plans

How effective are the behaviour plans you write for challenging students? This article offers some tips on the essential components of plans that really can make a positive change to challenging or disruptive behaviour

Dealing with delayed student response: allowing for 'start up time'

Expecting an instant reaction to your instructions from some students may be a step too far! This bulletin looks at practical strategies to empower you and reduce confrontation

Zero tolerance on challenging behaviour

’Zero tolerance’ is a phrase increasingly used in response to challenging behaviour – but what are the likely benefits and the possible consequences of such an approach?

Aiding the success of behaviour policies

As behaviour policies and classroom rules are being finalised for the new term ahead, Behaviour Matters reminds staff of their responsibilities in ensuring compliance and consistency to the agreed policies

Preparing the school environment for a new term

Preparing the emotional and environmental details of the classroom for the next school year can have a very clear impact on pupil and teacher behaviour

Self-review your behaviour strategies to improve your self-esteem

Assess your own pupils strategies to prepare yourself for improving behaviour next year. This Behaviour Matters reminds you to include your own self-review in your preparations for next year

Classroom seating plans

Behaviour Matters looks at the benefits of considered classroom seating plans, since the layout and organisation of your teaching and learning area is a major factor in successful behaviour management

Top 20 behaviour strategies

As a quick reference point and a reminder of strategies, this Behaviour Matters lists the top 20 behaviour strategies to include in your toolbox of behaviour management techniques

Defusing arguments with students

Arguments with pupils can escalate quickly, so Dave Stott gives tips on how to defuse or control arguments with students, before they become out of control and cause permanent behaviour problems

Motivate pupils for better behaviour

How can teachers motivate their pupils to improve their behaviour? Dave Stott continues the SEAL approach to improving classroom behaviour, offering practical tips

Tips for pupils on how to manage their feelings

Effective anger management techniques for pupils can be led by their teacher. This Behaviour Matters continues to look at how SEAL can have a direct link to improving behaviour

Improve behaviour with better personal time management

Behaviour suffers when teachers don't get to their classrooms on time, as pupils take advantage of the lack of supervision. Teachers' timekeeping is therefore important, and can be made more efficient by planning and communication with colleagues

Encouraging students to reflect on misbehaviour

If 'time-outs', punishments and sanctions are not changing the behaviour of a pupil, what other options are there? Dave Stott discusses how to encourage pupils to reflect on, and change, their behaviour

Maintaining good order and discipline: what powers do teachers have?

What powers do teachers actually have when it comes to disruptive pupils at school? Dai Durbridge discusses with reference to the use of force and confiscation

Managing behaviour strategies reviews

When confronting problem behaviour there are some tips and techniques that will prove immediately useful; Dave Stott offers ideas which aimt to diffuse potentially volatile situations

Monitoring and tracking behaviour

By monitoring behaviour — identifying patterns of disruption and collecting information over time — you will move some way towards finding a solution to behaviour problems. This ebulletin explains how to do this in an easy and effective manner

Advice on how to use necessary force with a pupil

When a teacher finds it necessary to use force with a pupil it is essential that they are clear on how to use that force — and how much to use — as well as how to deal with the recording and reporting of the incident afterwards

Auditing to improve behaviour

What is the first step in improving behaviour issues? The answer may surprise you — try an audit of your management style and learning environment. By acting on the findings, you may see an overall improvement in the way pupils approach learning — and each other

Teaching tips for helping those with BESD + Helpsheet 17

What kind of interventions can you introduce as a SENCO to address pupils’ behaviour difficulties? Linda Evans discusses in her second e-bulletin on BESD (behavioural, emotional and social development)

A ‘Fresh Start’ to your behaviour management approach

What can a fresh start bring to behaviour management? Here are some ideas and exercises to bring to the classroom every day in the pursuit of improved relationships with the students, led by renewed enthusiasm and perspective

Dealing with SEBD: positive handling

Some might think that a positive learning environment would be an ineffective tool against aggression in pupils with social emotional behavioural difficulties. However, Michael Jones speaks to a school who believes that a nurturing and supportive environment is exactly what SEBD children need

Learning together: how collaborative research can benefit students and teachers

When teachers and students work together, they can learn a lot about learning. In a 'Learning Together' project at seven schools, students and teachers researched the link between pupil behaviour and learning

When can you use force to control and restrain a pupil?

Are you familiar with the details surrounding this vital piece of legislation? Claire Anderson explains to educators what they need to know regarding the basic legal implications of when they are able to use force with pupils

How to react to disruptive pupils

How will your response to disruptive pupils set the tone for their future behaviour? In this Behaviour Matters, author Dave Stott looks at appropriate reactions and the use of reflection sheets to conquer this common problem

Verbal misdirection and arguments

How do you avoid arguments with students? Some students will always answer back, but there are subtle ways of communication that can help you avoid giving them the opportunity, says Dave Stott

Using the 3 Reminder Rule to encourage compliance

What should your next step be when a pupil ignores a clear instruction in the classroom? Behaviour Matters explores this common dilemma, offering the 3 Reminder Rule as a solution while reminding teachers that positivity encourages obedience

Reward and punishment in the classroom: the right balance

An obvious way of managing behaviour is to punish the bad and reward the good. But teachers must maintain an effective balance, being especially vigilant about continuing to reward those pupils who are consistently well behaved, warns Dave Stott

Sound control in the classroom

Do you struggle to control the frequency and level of noise in and around your classroom? Dave Stott discusses when talking is and is not acceptable, and suggests tips for outlining and enforcing your expectations to pupils

Voice control and managing behaviour

This Behaviour Matters explores the importance of verbal skills in the classroom, reminding teachers that the way that they use their voice could be key to managing behaviour

Implementing positive psychology

Jenny Fox Eades describes how focusing on students' strengths is an ideal way to implement positive psychology in the classroom

Promoting good early years behaviour

Good behaviour in early years is something that practitioners can and should promote, says Juliet Neill-Hall, who offers some strategies on 'how to'

What's the best way to handle incidents of severe behaviour?

Would you know how to respond well during an incident of acute or severe behaviour? Behaviour Matters offers practical tips on how best to handle such situations, and warns that teachers should always be prepared for them, no matter how rarely they occur

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