MANAGING BEHAVIOUR
Lighting fires
“Thinking is the gateway
to our emotions, and our
emotions are the gateway
Behaviour management
to our actions.”
Dr Arthur Freeman
“A mind stretched by a new
idea never returns to its
problem – if you are dealing with difficult students, and
original dimensions.”
intend to continue, you need to be aware of everything
that you could do help change the situation.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Is there a school behaviour/discipline policy?
“The very essence of
The relationship between teacher/pupil takes time to
build. Until you have the situation under control you
creativity is novelty; and
need to have a clear list of dos and don’ts so that you
stay within the boundaries of the school policies. hence we have no standard
What are your expectations when you head for the
classroom? Is counselling available for all those who
by which to judge it.”
need it? Many enjoy the confidential atmosphere with
Carl Rogers
someone totally uninvolved in their lives. Are there
places available? How are they prioritised? Is time-out
in a separate class, one-on-one, or therapy of some kind “We are all cups,
possible?
Will the students wait outside for you, or will they
constantly and quietly
be in class? Are they to be silent? You set the rules with
being filled. The trick
clear sanctions and rewards, but you must stick with
them to show you mean business. Any wavering will
is knowing how to tip
show you as weak and not in control.
Rewards are usually more effective, including ourselves over and let the
certificates given out in class or assembly, a comment,
a phone call home, a treat, a “special trip”, a chocolate,
beautiful stuff out.”
or a whole-class reward (even as simple as five minutes
Ray Bradbury
free chat at the end of the lesson, or five minutes internet
time). You must only set what you can follow through.
Shouting, graded detentions, loss of a privilege, a phone “A boss says, ‘Go!’ A leader
call home, removal from class are all things that happen,
but best kept for serious, repeat offenders only.
says, ‘Let’s go’.”
So, have we sorted the issues? Of course not.
EM Kelly
However, hopefully we have at least raised a few and
provided some food for thought. SecEd
“That which is merely told
• Di Taylor is a former teacher and a freelance
education journalist.
is quickly forgotten; that
Further information
which is discovered lasts a
• Managing Behaviour in Schools – the Legal
lifetime.”
Framework, Open University (2004).
• Getting the Buggers to Behave 2, Continuum (2003).
Peter Kline
• Toxic Childhood, Orion (2007).
Headteacher's
PA of the Year
Awards 2009
passed their GCSE English. Miraculous! Worth all the the students to understand what would happen during
hassle after all! I faced many difficult students during the lesson. Cross-talk with the other year 9 teachers
An opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people
the next few years at that school, but never again all in meant sharing issues and coming to a reasonable
the same class. agreement for change.
who are at the heart of a successful school
So readers, survival tips might be useful here. How
did this teacher survive?
How severe are the problems you are facing?
One of the most vital jobs performed in
I went straight to the head and asked him how best Supply teachers are probably at the greatest risk. I
any secondary school is that of the PA to
to handle this class. He asked me to provide him with a know several experienced teachers who have despaired
the headteacher. The PA is invariably the
lesson plan, and allow him to sit in on the next English in some classes because they do not have the usual
confidante of the head and a key link with the
lesson I took with them. “handles” to attempt control, the students know this,
staffroom, the governors, parents and pupils. Good PAs are
Of course, they were not perfect, but they were a lot and the schools are too busy with a focus elsewhere.
better with him there. And with my plan: In these situations, no teaching gets done, it is
an invaluable asset and few schools can operate efficiently or
• I explained my class rules. down to crowd control. You can either use your own
effectively without them.
• I wrote on the board (and told them) what would techniques, abandon class, never to go back, or call
happen during the hour lesson (with reminders security (if such a thing exists). Supply teachers pushed
In acknowledgement of this essential and important role,
every 15 minutes). into these kind of classes need a whole article to
SecEd is proud to organise for the fourth year running, in
• We had a debate (eight ways!). themselves considering their risk level.
association with the DCSF International School Award,
• Individual quiet reading (torture). You may not be providing for students with evident which is managed by the British Council, the SecEd
• I read them 10 minutes of a story which they needs – this may be a “normal” school. You need to Headteacher's PA of the Year Awards 2009, which will
actually listened to. know whether there is trouble everywhere in the school.
celebrate the achievements and success of the modern
• The head laughed at all the right bits, told them the Does respect and discipline actually exist in school, and
headteacher's PA.
class was being run by a total expert and said if not, where does it fall down? Do not hesitate to ask
anyone not toeing the line, arguing, being rude etc, staff in the staffrooms. What type of student is causing
Only personal assistants to the headteacher of a
should be sent straight to him. the main trouble? Equipped with new information, will
secondary school, state or independent, may be
• The class were dismissed only when they were you stick with this, or run?
quiet.
entered. Nominations will only be accepted by the
I cannot say they were ever “well behaved”, and
Relationships are very important
head or deputy head. To enter, a statement
the strain of teaching them was colossal, but as we got Watch around the school – how do students respond
of not more than 700 words must be
to know each other, we managed. They got to know to each other, and teachers? Is there peer pressure?
written, explaining why the
my routines, although could never really toe the party Bullying/fighting? Arguing? Does senior management
nominated PA deserves
lines. Most importantly, by half-term the staff agreed to support staff? Staff must support students and each
the award.
mix up the two year 9 classes as there were too many other. Parents and teachers should be communicating.
extremes together. You need to find this information out as soon as
Nominations should be
This did not make the students behave better, or possible so you can plan your way forward.
cure their issues, but it made my life so much easier to
sent to Pete Henshaw by
handle. I should have checked out these kids before I
Is there a dietary problem?
no later than October 1, 2009.
went into class, but in my naivety I did not think they Do the students have a decent diet or have you noticed
For information and guidance for
would behave so badly. I did not realise so many needs lots of unhealthy snacks, readily accessible school
nominators is also available.
could be mixed up in one person. lunches packed with additives that hinder their capacity
Email pete.h@markallengroup.com,
This member of staff was lucky – the head moved to sit still, focus, listen, learn and develop?
write to SecEd, MA Education, St. Jude's
in fast and showed support to the class and the teacher. Sue Palmer in her book Toxic Childhood recommends
Church, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PB
It did not remove the problem, but helped the teacher to many ways of detoxing these kids and getting some real
or visit www.sec-ed.co.uk
get going. A clear plan (both written and spoken) helped nourishment into them. Do not think this is not your
pa 2009.indd 1 23/3/09 15:49:07
SecEd • March 26 2009 9
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