8 Strategies For Behaviour Management In The Classroom.

When a teacher's class is impossible or nearly impossible to deal with on a daily basis, why not try one (or all) of these 8 strategies in the classroom?

1. Trade Cards.

PSD Graphics / Via ww.psdgraphics.com

Provide individual targets to specific students which they should aim to meet throughout the lesson. If successful, they can trade the card at the end for a small reward. Targets I often use include: “no calling out”, “complete all work” or “answer the key question from memory, using your own words”.

2. Hand in the Air.

Daily Mobile / Via dailymobile.net

Place your hand in the air like you just don’t care! Stand there, for as long as it takes, in silence, with your hand in the air. Students will soon start copying and cease their conversations! If you need a variation on this, start counting. As long as your hand is in the air, waiting for silence, is the amount of time students owe you at break/lunch.

3. Secret Student.

Times Higher Education / Via timeshighereducation.co.uk

Without any other students knowing tell a specific student or gesture to them that they are your secret student for the lesson. As long as they behave, complete work and stay on task, all students will be rewarded. This could be through points or a small game at the end of the lesson. If you find students are catching on to your gesture for the Secret Student, don’t actually tell any of them in advance, place their name in an envelope and reveal the name at the end of the lesson.

4. Sssssshhers.

Alamy

Employ some students to be your official “sssssshhhers” so that when you count down, they sssshh their tables, getting them silent for the next instruction/task.

5. Individual Target Card.

CSB Schools / Via csbschools.org

Set a student targets and place the card in the front of their book. Reward the student with a sticker/tick if the target is met, but a cross if it is not. Decide, with the student, a suitable reward for if they achieve all ticks, or a reasonable consequence for if they receive a cross.

6. 1-100.

The online Central / Via theonlinecentral.com

Create a grid of 10x10 and number the squares 1-100. Have a pot of lolly sticks, which are also numbered, individually, from 1-100. When you catch a student being good, pull a lolly stick and get them to colour in the number on the grid. A row of 10 coloured squares (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) means that the class receives a reward. You will see them all pulling together to work well as a class.

7. Wristbands.

Pinterest / Via pinterest.com

Use these as a reward and a behaviour management tool. Easily ordered on Amazon, they can be used to set targets for behaviour and as students are wearing them, there is no excuse for forgetting what they should be doing. Sometimes we make them into pretend handcuffs and a target on each hand. They can only be released (wristbands cut off) if they meet their targets for the lesson.

8. Warning Cone.

CG Trader / Via cgtrader.com

This is something you can pick up in a joke store or a 99p shop. With a washable marker, write warning and a message of your choice, e.g. “Behaviour needs improving or detention will happen”. Place this on the desk of the disruptive student and remove if their behaviour improves. If they make no effort to improve, turn the cone where you will have written the next consequence and so on.

Conclusion.

Above all, remember to stay calm, do not raise your voice and never get into an argument with a student. Try these techniques first!

Find more inspirational ideas for your classroom in:

JNPAQUET Books Ltd / Via jnpaquet-books.com

"OUTSTANDING LESSON AHEAD" by Amy Sargent.

A book that will just fire your imagination with its thought-provoking style. It has all the ingredients you need to deliver an outstanding lesson. It provides both aspiring and current teachers with suggestions, ideas and techniques to incorporate in their lessons, which capture the importance of mind-set and creativity. The strategies are suitable for any level of teacher, any year group and any subject. Simply dip in and out when you feel you need to refresh your classroom practice.

Join the journey to being an outstanding teacher today with outstanding learners: www.jnpaquet-books.com/teach

The book is available both in print and eBook formats.