Promoting Positive Classroom Behaviour

Welcome to my new 6 part blog series, “Promoting Positive Behaviour in the Classroom.” This series is based on my notes from the subject EDLL601 Promoting Positive Behaviour at Australian Catholic University.

We’ll explore various strategies and insights to help create a positive learning environment, manage challenging behaviours, and support student well-being.

Why Focus on Positive Behaviour?

Promoting positive behaviour is not just about maintaining order in the classroom; it’s about creating an environment where all students can thrive. Research shows that teacher quality and effective classroom management significantly influence student outcomes. In fact, according to studies by Sanders and Rivers (1996) and Leigh (2010), students in classrooms with highly effective teachers learn at twice the rate of those with average teachers. This series aims to equip you with the tools and knowledge to become that highly effective teacher.

What to Expect in This Series

Over the next few weeks, we will delve into various aspects of promoting positive behaviour, drawing insights from the “EDLL601 NOTES Promoting Positive Behaviour.pdf” document. Here’s a sneak peek at what we’ll cover:

1. Effective Classroom Management Strategies
   • Learn about the importance of teacher presence, the Strong Voice technique, and effective Call to Attention methods.
2. Understanding and Addressing Challenging Behaviour
   • Explore the types of challenging behaviours, potential influences, and the Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence (ABC) Model.
3. Theories and Models of Behaviour Management
   • Gain insights into various behaviour management theories, including Assertive Discipline, Tactical Ignoring, Choice Theory, and Dreikurs’ Social Discipline Model.
4. Implementing Restorative Practices
   • Discover the benefits of restorative practices and how to implement them in your classroom to resolve conflicts and build a positive classroom culture.
5. Focusing on Wellbeing
   • Understand the link between student wellbeing and positive behaviour, and learn strategies to support student wellbeing.
6. Engaging Parents and the Community
   • Learn how to build strong parent-school engagement and work collaboratively with parents to support positive behaviour.

Reflect on your own teaching practices and consider how you currently promote positive behaviour in your classroom.

References

Leigh, A. (2010). Estimating teacher effectiveness from two-year changes in students’ test scores. Economics of Education Review, 29(3), 480-488.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2009.10.010

Sanders, W. L., & Rivers, J. C. (1996). Cumulative and residual effects of teachers on future student academic achievement. University of Tennessee Value-Added Research and Assessment Center. Retrieved from  https://www.beteronderwijsnederland.nl/files/cumulative%20and%20residual%20effects%20of%20teachers.pdf