Teachers TV: Sharing Expectations

Practical behaviour strategies for starting a Year 6 school year.

John Bayley observes award-winning teacher Andy Bell on the first day of term as he gets his new Year 6 class into shape. Praise and rewards are Andy’s principal tools for encouraging good behaviour and John is impressed with his explicit instructions when establishing his expectations. Andy introduces a series of signals for attention, teaches the children a precise set of sound levels illustrated by his football ‘noise-o-meter’ and outlines five rules for listening. The class are then eased into learning with fun activities which gently remind them of school routines. By the end of the morning two children have been awarded stars for good work and everyone is working together to build the class rules. Two weeks later John returns to see Andy’s rewards, rules and routines seamlessly integrated into the morning’s literacy lesson.