Do your students always seem to be asking, ‘What are we meant to be doing?’ One of the biggest issues teachers have is how to get students to listen and follow directions, without having to repeat themselves.
The secret lies in giving clear directions the first time. It can mean the difference between effective learning and time wasting confusion!
Schools often struggle with how to teach students to be accountable for their actions and to take responsibility when they have acted inappropriately.
Howard Zehr, the restorative justice pioneer, coined the three “restorative questions” that guide restorative practices.
Have you ever felt that it didn’t matter what the consequences were for a student’s behaviour, they didn’t make any difference? If a behaviour management strategy isn’t working, it may be time to change and perhaps that means taking a completely different approach.
Despite all our best efforts at prevention, there will be times when students do not always follow directions or comply with our expectations. So how do we respond in a way that will help students learn appropriate behaviour and maintain positive relationships?
Do you ensure you have these 5 easy teaching strategies done to help reduce the off-class behaviour of your students?
Read about our top 10 evidence-based teaching strategies to better behaviour management in the classroom
If I told you there was a research-based, well proven strategy that was low cost, took little time and energy to implement that would greatly improve student concentration, focus and achievement, would you do it?
The answer seems pretty obvious, yet the approach may be controversial and challenge your long held beliefs and attitudes.
If you consider problem behaviour as a lack of skill, in much the same way students may lack literacy or numeracy skills, this can give you clues as to the most effective approach:
Your students will live up (or down!) to your expectations. Student achievement is strongly affected by what the teacher expects of them and this has been demonstrated by many educational researchers. The first and most famous experiment is known as the Pygmalion effect.
Have you ever heard your name called so often in class you threatened to change your name just so no one could call on you?
Teaching your students alternative ways of accessing your attention will contribute to smooth running of the classroom, help manage behaviour problems and save your sanity! Teach and model non-verbal ways of communicating to your students.