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Rules for Better Class Room Behaviour

লেখক :

November 9, 2014

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Have Classroom rules for positive influence:

1. Use positive classroom rules

Students need to know what is expected of them in a classroom. Establish a set of rules, no more than 4 or 5, which make desired behaviour explicit. Refer to them frequently so that they are always on top of the mind of students!

The rules should tell the students what to do, rather than what not to do!

Don’t Say

Don’t call out.
Don’t walk around the classroom.
Don’t break things.

Instead say:

Put up your hand and wait to speak.
Stay in your seat.
Look after classroom equipment.

Praise good behaviour and refer to the rule being followed. Use the rules to point out inappropriate behaviour, “Remember our rule about …”

2. Be in charge

As the teacher, and the adult, you are ‘in charge’. It is your classroom and you must actively and consciously make the rules and decisions, rather than letting them happen out of habit, poor organisation or at the whim of the students.

3. Establish a set of routines for the beginning

‘start of lesson’ routines

Have a routine way of starting a lesson; a quiet activity that students can get right down to, without needing any explanation. Handwriting, copying from the board, spelling practice (familiar key language from the current topic) and mental arithmetic are good activities to set a quiet tone.

Do not allow discussion or be drawn into discussion yourself
Never attempt to start teaching a lesson until the students are ready

If you take the time to establish this, lessons will start themselves! You will not have that battle at the beginning of every lesson to get yourself heard.

4. Use positive reinforcement

Catch them being good

Praise is the most powerful motivator there is. Praise the tiniest steps in the right direction.

Students will not think you are being too strict and will not resent your firm decision making if you remember to smile, to criticise less and to praise more. Tell the students there will be positive consequences for positive behaviour, then follow through and show them.

Some positive behaviours are easily overlooked. Try to remember to praise students for

homework in on time
homework in late but at least it’s in
working quietly
good attendance
neat desk
not swinging on chair
smiling
contributing to class discussion
helping another student
not laughing at another student’s mistakes
promptly following your instructions
wearing glasses
using common sense

Use the reward systems of the school consistently and fairly.

Stick to your guns and don’t be ‘bullied’ into giving rewards that haven’t been earned.

5. Give rewards and make students work for it

Make rewards work for you

Give students relevant rewards for desirable behaviours:

starting tasks
completing tasks
following class rules, etc.

The goal is to establish the HABIT of co-operation. Standards can be subtly raised once the habit has been established. The easiest, quickest and most appreciated reward is descriptive praise.

Other possible rewards, besides those used as a school-wide system are