Behaviour Management for Primary NQTs

Mark Holdaway

Associate Trainer

(Brighton & Hove Pupil Referral Unit)

Session Four:

Building and maintaining positive relationships

Aims of the session

We will explore:

• how we develop positive relationships with children

• the use of praise in developing and maintaining positive relationships

• why it is more difficult to build and maintain positive relationships with some children than with others

• solution-focused strategies for proactive behaviour management

and will build on:

• a proactive checklist for positive behaviour management

Relationships

The key to promoting positive behaviour

Three main difficulties:

• Large numbers of children with whom teachers have to develop relationships

• Multiple role of the teacher

• Some children are actively suspicious andanti-relationships

Relationships

• You need to have a positive relationship

• Relationships develop naturally

• They can be positive or negative

• Maintenance may come naturally

• May need to be planned

• Relationships take time

• Involve others – staff, parents/carers, etc

• Keep a healthy ‘bank balance’

Tips on using praise

• Aim for a ratio of 8:1

• Start the lesson by praising specific things from last session

• Be genuine

• Make praise specific – relate to the 5 Rs

• Choose carefully when to give it

• Praise what matters to children as well as what matters to you

cont...

Tips on using praise (cont…)

• Keep going even if children don’t acknowledge your praise – it works on the inside

• Don’t ‘qualify’ praise

• Acknowledge any effort the child has made – praise is a consequence of that effort

• See the child individually and tell them what you observed

• A quick positive note or phone call home can work wonders

I don’t like this child!

What separates them out in terms of:

• their behaviour towards you

• their behaviour towards peers

• their attention span

• their academic success

• how they feel about themselves

• their support from home

• their ability to do what they promised?

Our own feelings

• Annoyed

• Angry, provoked

• Hurt

• Defeated, discouraged

In this session we have:

• considered the importance of positive relationships

• shared ideas for building positive relationships

• considered why and how to use praise

• discussed why it is more difficult to build and maintain positive relationships with some children than with others

• discussed why ‘labelling’ children happens and how it can perpetuate negative behaviour

• applied solution-focused strategies to a classroom issue