New Teachers & Behaviour Management

Behaviour management is best kept simple.

There are three rules:

1. Be relational

2. Be fair

3. Be consistent

Being relational

The best way to control the behaviour in your classroom is to get to know your students, inside and outside of the classroom. In a school where sport is played, coach. In a school where it isn't, make the most of lunch duty. At all times and through all communication maintain your sense of self. Be interested without being inauthentic. Be caring without being overzealous. Let students get to know you—and things about you—without crossing the student/teacher line. That must always be maintained.

In the long term, your credibility and integrity will be worthless if you try to be a 'mate'.

Being fair

Never give a consequence—or threaten one—that does not fit the behaviour. Never make a threat and not follow through. 

Always explain why a consequence is appropriate, preferably before you need to give it. If you can't justify a consequence then it is not fair and your students will not respect your decision making processes.

Being consistent

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. We call that being fair or just. And if you are fair and just in responding to behaviour—good and bad—it tends to follow that you are also consistent. And you must be consistent, because that means you are predictable and there is safety in predictability for your students.

Your students need to feel safe if they are going to learn.