The UK's Department for Education has presented a skills
overview:
Improving teacher training for behavior. This document, devised
by the UK Government's expert advisor on behavior, Charlie Taylor,
completes the new Teachers' Standards that all teachers have to
demonstrate from September 2012 onward.
It sets out the knowledge, skills and understanding that
trainees will need to demonstrate in order to be able to manage
children's behavior successfully. These are the skills that UK
teachers need to master before the end of the summer:
- Trainees should understand that they are responsible for
ensuring the highest standards of behaviour from their pupils.
- Trainees should have developed their own personal style for
managing behaviour. Knowledge of generic behaviour management
systems and techniques is essential; the way they are used depends
on the attributes of individual teachers and the context in which
they are teaching.
- Trainees should be able to vary the tone and volume of their
voice to teach effectively and manage behaviour.
- Trainees should know how to look after their voice.
- Trainees should understand how to stand, move, make use of
space and use eye contact in order to be an authoritative presence
in the classroom.
- Trainees should understand what effect their responses, both
verbal and non-verbal, can have on children's behaviour. They
should be able to manage their own emotions when they are
teaching.
- Trainees should be able to reflect on the way they manage
behaviour and their classrooms and be prepared to change what isn't
working well.
- Trainees should understand how effective school systems support
good behaviour management, and prevent and deal with bullying. They
should be able to adapt their practice to fit with the school
behaviour policy and should understand that consistency is an
essential component of managing behaviour.
- Trainees should understand that good relationships are at the
heart of good behaviour management. They should be able to form
positive, appropriate, professional relationships with their
pupils.
- Trainees should be able to use praise effectively.
- Trainees should know how to apply rewards and sanctions to
improve behaviour.
- Trainees need to know how to develop and teach routines to
pupils so that time is used efficiently.
- Trainees need to be able to manage behaviour in a range of
different situations such as whole class teaching, group work, the
corridors and the playground.
- Trainees should have an understanding of why children misbehave
and why some children demonstrate more challenging behaviour.
- Trainees should be able to plan and teach lessons that take
account of individual children's special needs, so that they are
less likely to misbehave.
- Trainees should know how to take appropriate and effective
action when they are confronted by more extreme behaviour.
- Trainees should know about scientific research and
developments, and how these can be applied to understanding,
managing and changing children's behavior.
Might a teacher still feel insecure about one of these topics,
the Education Department adds a list of institutions where 'lion
taming skills' can be learned. Bye, bye summer holiday…
