Two of the most important things to remember when starting in a new school are getting to know the students, particularly their names, as soon as possible and being clear with rules, routines, rewards and consequences immediately. By getting to know the students, you are building a relationship with them which benefits their learning and the ‘atmosphere’ of the classroom environment. By being clear with your expectations, students know what behaviour is acceptable and are prepared for their learning, feeling safe and comfortable (Churchill, Ferguson, Godinho, Johnson, Keddie, Letts, Mackay, McGill, Moss, Nagel, Nicholson & Vick, 2011).
A behaviour management theorist who has numerous ideas and techniques that are easy to follow is Bill Rogers. For example, if you have a disruptive student, Rogers (Osiris Educational, 2012) suggests these steps:
Rogers has several texts and videos on behaviour management where he provides simple strategies for teachers. For more information, below is a link to a list of his texts, or go to YouTube and search ‘Bill Rogers’ for short videos on different scenarios.
Rogers Education Consultancy Pty Ltd, 2015, Dr Bill Rogers, Rogers Education Consultancy Pty Ltd, viewed 9 October 2015, http://www.billrogers.com.au/
A behaviour management theorist who has numerous ideas and techniques that are easy to follow is Bill Rogers. For example, if you have a disruptive student, Rogers (Osiris Educational, 2012) suggests these steps:
- Non-verbal cues- for instance, signalling to put all four chair legs on the floor
- Questioning – “how can I help?” rather than going straight to the problem
- Directed choices and ‘take-up time’- “You can either put the toy in your bag or on my desk and get it back at lunch time” then walk away and allow the student to follow the choice through.
- If there is a response or argument, the teacher then can use partial agreement (“But Mrs X lets us!” “Maybe she does”), but bring the discussion back on course with the rule reminder and repeated choice.
Rogers has several texts and videos on behaviour management where he provides simple strategies for teachers. For more information, below is a link to a list of his texts, or go to YouTube and search ‘Bill Rogers’ for short videos on different scenarios.
Rogers Education Consultancy Pty Ltd, 2015, Dr Bill Rogers, Rogers Education Consultancy Pty Ltd, viewed 9 October 2015, http://www.billrogers.com.au/