Getting this right starts with you. You must know exactly what you want your own classroom to be like. By example and by instruction, make your expectations clear to your students. And if things aren’t as you want them, act swiftly and establish rituals.
* Set up and stick to procedures for beginning lessons. Take control of entry to the classroom, removing coats, taking out materials, being quiet for the register
* Be on time yourself - if you don’t care, why should they?
* Keep it impersonal
* Make your requirements explicit: display and refer to whole-school rules and behaviour policies. What you want isn’t exceptional - it’s the way things are done
* Spell out your expectations at the start of each lesson; these may vary, depending on the activity, but establish what you want and how you want it
* Set a standard, then insist on it
* Be consistent
* Don’t relax because you’re in a good mood, and don’t be fierce because you’ve had a bad day
* Don’t set up rules or expectations you can’t enforce
* Don’t forget the rules you’ve established. Watch everyone - eye contact at the right time can halt misbehaviour before it starts
Harry Dodds
