Promoting Behavior For Learning Is A Key Classroom Management Strategy.
It's important to focus student attention on behavior for learning.
Behavior for learning means that all classroom routines and interactions are planned to highlight the link between the standard of behavior and the quality of learning.It also means that students'behavior needs are being met.
The quality of
learning activities
is the single most important ingredient in classroom success, and successful teachers know how behavior can impact, both positively and negatively, on attainment and learning. As well as developing their skills in using
assertive behavior
techniques, they also work hard at explaining, teaching and modelling behavior techniques that actively promote learning.
What are the features of a behavior for learning programme?
Set clear learning intentions and success criteria: if students don't know what they have to learn and why, they can easily lose focus: explaining the learning outcomes clearly and in detail and, crucially, making it clear to students how they can judge how successfully they have been is a powerful starting point for positive classroom behavior.
Agree targets for behavior based on the agreed code of conduct and explain the link between these behaviors and the success of the learning outcomes: for example, highlight the link between students talking when the teacher is talking and everyone's concentration being broken by those students.
Decide how to praise and reward those students who adhere to the agreed behavior procedures: depending on the age of students, make the rewards public and visible, by using tick charts and stickers; it's also useful to acknowledge good behavior by talking about it and mentioning students who comply;informing parents about good behavior is a good way to show wider acknowledgement of the importance of how good behavior impacts on learning.
Refer to the behavior for learning principles frequently:display them prominently in the class, and acknowledge examples of good behavior not just good work: you can say, for example, 'You listened really carefully while I was explaining that piece of work which meant we could all concentrate fully' or 'The students on this table have really worked well together and have completed the task set - well done' - and by not mentioning other students who have not done well you strengthen the ackowledgement of good behavior and subtly reinforce the message that good behavior not only helps get the work done but also gains teacher approval.
Try your hardest to model the behavior you want students to display:this is often very difficult, especially if you're wound up and angry;sometimes you'll let yourself down but by continuing to demand more of yourself you will succeed in becoming a good role model for your students.
The underlying principle of a behavior of learning programme is that improving the learning is the most likely way to improve behavior.
Setting positive learning targets and following up with accurate feedback and appropriate praise and acknowledegement for succeeding is an integral part of the process.
Students are not passive in the process, they have to work as hard at this as the teacher, and they need to appreciate this and need to be taught what good learning looks like, sounds like and feels like.
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