Behaviour Management: 30+ Habits of Effective teachers.

Written in conjunction with a number of experienced educators from across special and mainstream education. The list of behaviour management strategies is not exhaustive. They should give you a good foundation on managing day-to-day behavioural issues. By habits we mean the day to day routines you develop in your classroom. Behaviour management in education is a key stress point and often a source of frustration to teachers.

Advice relating to behaviour management ranges from “Teach fun lessons” to “Zero tolerance for any infringement.”. The most effective teachers use a range of strategies and behaviour management techniques. The three key strategies relate to building relationships with the children, setting clear expectations and routines and maintaining a consistent approach.

Whatever you do teaching is a profession with the child at the centre of all we do. Your approach should reflect your values and ethos.

Essential Behaviour Management Habits

• Show the child they have value in your class.
• Develop a meaningful relationship.
• Build in opportunities to learn and practice social interaction skills.
• Teach a way to ask for space appropriately.
• Inform children of the structure.
• Develop routines and typicality so children know what to expect.
• Lead the class, you determine the direction of a task or lesson, if you want to go off plan do it.
• A Seating plan is only effective if you review it over the term.
• Clear expectations, reinforced consistently.
• Ensure you have designed tasks to be accessible to each child.
• Overt differentiation can destroy self-esteem
• Keep your voice calm and controlled.
• Do not underestimate how powerful silence can be in learning.
• Stop talking if you are spoken over, then address. Do not compete to be heard.
• If you say you are going to do it then do it!
• Praise is your gift to give. Use it wisely but generously.
• Maintain your composure and body language.
• Shame is not a behaviour management technique, it is abuse.
• Positivity should be unconditional.
• If behaviour hasn’t met expectations that session make sure you address it before the children leave.
• If you need compliance don’t frame the request as a question.
• Be where you should be on time
• Be prepared to start planned learning activities promptly.
• Pace and timing are subjective but used well can help with learning behaviours.
• Don’t have favourites, find a positive in each child.
• If you messed up admit it, apologise and move on.
• Novelty can lead to overexcitement, use it wisely and build up to it.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
• Restart and reset if needed, whether that is the lesson or interaction with the child.
• Non-verbal signals and gestures can help reduce noise levels. Use your voice as a tool.
• Provide an exit if a poor behaviour has been shown.
• Only ever reprimand in private as much as possible, some children want that audience.
• Meet negativity with positivity
• You can change the situation to meet a need.
• Make time to find out what drives behaviour.
• Say Thank you before the do what you ask
• Address the child by their preferred name all the time.

I hope these are useful. Please feel free to add your own behaviour management habits in the comments.

Other behaviour linked articles.

Essential behaviour deescalation techniques.

5 reasons your challenging behaviour strategies aren’t working.

How to prevent behaviour escalation.