A Positive Approach to Behaviour

Have you ever taught a class where behaviour has been bouncy and teaching kind of feels a bit like trying to keep a lid on a box of frogs? ??You’re not alone!

Behaviour dips in classes and across school/on corridors are inevitable within a school environment. Hundreds of children, all coming to school with their own individual feelings, emotions and situations they are dealing with is never going to create a perfectly stable and balanced energy day in, day out. This is a human profession and that’s why every day is different, and whilst this is something we tend to reel off when we are describing what we love about the job, it doesn’t come without its challenges. I wonder whether it’s less about trying to control behaviour dips and more about focusing on HOW we deal with them as practitioners.

The most useful word I could possibly use in this post is CONSISTENCY. Whatever your policies are for dealing with behaviour in your school, be CONSISTENT in applying them. The more students see and experience the expectations and goal posts you set out in your classroom, and your unwillingness to work outside of these parameters, the less challenges you will face from students. High expectations though, doesn’t mean don’t smile until Christmas! Dealing with behaviour doesn’t have to be a reactive, energy draining, negative and confrontational affair. Dealing with behaviour can be positive and some behaviours can even be avoided by pre-empting them and applying strategies so that the behaviour never even rears its head.

Over the last few years, there has been a big behaviour drive at my school, focusing on the language we use and adopting much more of a positive approach. By applying a small number of positive strategies CONSISTENTLY, we have seen a dramatic reduction in behaviour points/referrals. The monthly membership to Busy Teacher’s Club offers using CPD on behaviour and MUCH MORE! Head to the SUBSCRIPTIONS page to sign up!