How to Support Students with Challenging Behaviour
Trying to keep calm when things are not going well in the classroom can be such a struggle. It is overwhelming to try and support students with their emotions and behaviours – as well as our own.
Susan Gavin, course author of EPV Summer Course “Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviour” has put a comprehensive course together to help us pre-empt issues and creating systems and ways of working that stop things escalating negatively. We have shared some of these below.
Here are 5 tips on how to support students with challenging behaviour:
1. Have clear rules and procedures in the classroom
This ensures that there is consistency and structure that supports everyone. Here are some pointers for making rules with students.
- Involve the children
- Keep the rules to 5 or 6
- Use positive language
- Model the rules
2. Draw on pupils’ interests
When planning a lesson, think about how to include childrens’ interests and present it in an engaging way. Providing lessons that aspire to promote intrinsic motivation can help to deter a teacher from overusing rewards systems and becoming reliant on them as the sole means of motivating children.
3. Use of different methodologies
Try and avoid relying on the same activities during every lesson, as the children becoming overfamiliar with them and may become less engaged.
For example, when using the KISS, 4 Phase Lesson Plan – there are 4 parts to a lesson which allows the teacher to plan 4 learning activities. It’s easy to follow and ensures that there can be different methodologies in each section, for example independent work and then group work or teacher-led questioning. By following a structure but mixing up the methodologies it helps with good learning ‘flow’ and scaffolding of learning.
You can learn more about the 4 phase lesson plan on our EPV Summer Course “Effective Lesson Planning”.
4. Differentiation
Work within a child’s ability, and ensure you are differentiating for all the children in the class. If an activity is too easy the children will lose motivation, but also if it is too hard it is unattainable to the child! Try and find the right level of challenge so that they feel a sense of achievement. We share more on this, including how to support students with EAL on our EPV Summer Course “Differentiation”.
Psst… Read “How to Differentiate Effectively – 10 Tips for Teachers” HERE!
5. Promote Inquiry, Play & Discovery
Thompson (2013) suggests a number of techniques that can be used in the classroom to promote positive performance and behaviour. These are centred around teaching creatively and also encourage creativity among the children themselves.
These may include:
- Asking the children to master a topic so they can create a quiz or worksheet for their classmates.
- Watching short videos as a means of learning.
- Writing on anything other than lined paper.
- Listening to music that matches the content being taught.
- Working against a clock.
- Making a video or audio recording.
- Role-playing.
- Competing against another class.
Back to School Tips for Teachers
Going back to school is a nerve-wrecking time for everyone – including teachers! It is a brand new start; a chance to do things differently and establish a new routine. We asked some of our followers what are their “Back to School” tips for teachers.
Are you confident using Formative Assessment methods?
Did you know that 74% of teachers do not feel confident with formative assessment teaching methodologies?
As we approach the new school year, this survey conducted by Rahoo Training in 2020, and its findings, should be at the forefront of a school leader’s mind.
Webinar 8th November 2023: How to Enhance the Teaching & Learning of Maths with Formative Assessment
“How to Enhance the Teaching & Learning of Maths with Formative Assessment” is 1 hour in duration including Q&A opportunities.
This webinar will be hosted by a Nadine Lyons, Maths Lead Practitioner at South View School Dubai.
What is the Silent Phase?
Supporting EAL (English as an Additional Language) students in schools can be challenging, but there are several strategies that can help. Here are some ways that schools can support EAL students.
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The Not-So-Secret Diary of Rachel O Connor
My name is Rachel O’ Connor, I am in my 10th year as Principal of Ramsgrange Community School, situated on the Hook Peninsula in Southwest Wexford. I will begin in a new position as Deputy Director of NAPD on September 1st 2023.
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