Based on the most wide-ranging and comprehensive education research available, the key messages regarding running a classroom are:
- Set your routines and stick to them
- Have the highest of expectations and don’t let them drop
According to Tom Bennett, when reflecting upon a lesson taught, look at what was wanted to be taught, and whether the routines in place allowed that to happen. There will be a gap in most cases, and normally the gap is driven by a lack of routines or expectations that are not high enough. One of the most striking statements that Bennett makes, is that ‘you promote what you permit’.
The following links are useful to read, along with watching the videos below, to gain useful tips and strategies for managing behaviour and establishing positive routines.
- Top 10 behaviour management tips – Alex Quigley
- Reboot your classroom behaviour – Tom Bennett
- Behaviour Management – a Bill Rogers top 10 – Tom Sherrington
- Rocks of Routine – Jack Tavassoly-Marsh
- Behaviour management tips for teachers
- 10 ways to deal with low-level disruption
- Examples of creating a calm and purposeful learning environment at Durrington High School
The following video clips provide short supportive strategies and tips to ensure you are running your classroom effectively.
- Low-level disruption
- Waiting for silence
- Seating plans
- Persistent Disruption
- Classroom rules
- SLANT technique
- Meeting your class
- How to do a ‘Do Now’ task
- You establish what you establish
- Bill Rogers – 8 videos to help with behaviour management
- What a successful meet and great and ‘Do Now’ looks like
- How to circulate the classroom
- Making sure students are ready to learn with the right equipment
The following literature is highly recommended:
- Classroom Behaviour 4th edition – Bill Rogers
- Slow teaching – ‘Refining relationships’ and ‘Serene and stoical behaviour management – Jamie Thom
- The Confident Teacher – chapter 9 – ‘Managing student behaviour’– Alex Quigley
