​Often times, the most challenging part of your role as a teaching assistant is managing the behaviour of children in the classroom. Although it is not solely your responsibility to manage this, it is important for you to encourage positive behaviour.

Here are some great behaviour management strategies which will help you manage behaviour in the classroom.

Importance of Behaviour Management

Before that however, let’s look at exactly why behaviour management is an important and fundamental aspect of your role.

Students are in school to get an education and learn. If behaviour is not managed, learning cannot take place. Behaviour management is therefore important to manage students, avoid disruptions and ensure that they are able to put their whole focus into their learning.

Praise positive behaviour

Everyone likes praise. It makes people feel good. Praising positive behaviour will encourage your students to continue to work hard and do the best they can in order to please you and continue receiving praise.

Highlight anything a student has achieved and encourage their good behaviour. If the class is very disrupting, rather than focusing on those causing the disruption and punishing them, focus on those who are paying attention. By directing your focus onto those doing good, the rest of the class will follow in an attempt to display that same behaviour.

Build relationships

Make sure you build positive relationships with your students, so that they feel heard and seen. They will respect you more, and see you as more than a teacher. You will be a person they trust and one they can go to for advice and guidance.

Building relationships doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply greeting a student can go a long way. When you make them feel seen, they will do their best when it comes to learning. Small conversations relating to things they have previously told you, or things they are passionate about will also make them aware that you are listening to them. Again, it’s the simple things that count in the long run.

Best of all, when they respect you, they are less likely to disrupt your lesson and are increasingly likely to work harder.

Set expectations

Another tool you can use to encourage positive behaviour in the classroom is to set expectations.

Setting expectations, particularly for younger year pupils is important. It allows them to understand what is expected and what is required of them. Setting these expectations clearly at the beginning will get them engaged in their education.

Research also shows how motivation is increased when students know what is expected of them.

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