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17-05-2012
Secondary Teacher Jon is from Canada and is currently teaching in London schools through Protocol Education. This blog entry in the latest in the series titled Managing Behaviour in Secondary Classrooms.
The Port of Five Cruxes
Avast ye, and hark! Have you determined which of the five cruxes of behaviour management ye are neglecting? Not sure yet? Well then, read on, and allow me to elaborate.
HMS Quaff the Pierian Spring is currently bobbing gently on the tides in her berth in the Port of Five Cruxes, and within fifteen minutes of her docking the harbourmaster made it known to the crew and everyone standing on land that the scuttling of all the longboats on the ship was a ridiculously costly, most savagely foolish and majestically needless, endeavour.
Sigh. Nevertheless, we shall disembark and explore this vital port named the Five Cruxes.
The Potter Connection
You will be forgiven if you have imagined the horcruxes of Harry Potter when you contemplate the title of this blog. Puzzle, ponder, and mentally poise, and even consider light heartedly but make no mistake – comparing the five cruxes to Voldemort’s seven horcruxes is not a terrible stretch of the imagination because the consequences of not finding them are just as darkly serious. We’re talking utter barbaric chaos in the classroom here, a return to the so-called dark ages.
Just as Harry had to understand and find the seven horcruxes of Voldemort in order to have a hope of triumphing, so must you, as a teacher, gain understanding and personal control over the five cruxes of behaviour management in order to establish a safe and proper environment conducive to student learning.
The Five Cruxes Explained
The first crux is: Rules and Rewards for Behaviour must be Visible in the Classroom. This simply means that any visitor to the classroom should be able to quickly and easily identify the main rules governing the conduct of behaviour within the classroom. Since people have different learning needs and abilities, a visual representation of behaviour expectations is perhaps the most basic means of getting the message across. You can imagine that being able to dart a finger at something on the wall to make a silent point is incredibly helpful. Newcomers, students and supply teachers alike, could also benefit from the visual show of rules – but more on that later.
The 2nd crux is: Rules and Rewards for Behaviour must be Audible in the Classroom. This refers to the teacher’s constant verbal reminder of the expectations of behaviour and will include pointing and repeating verbatim the rules written on the walls. This also means that students are audibly aware of how close they are to deserving punishment for violating one of the rules (eg two or three strikes), or to achieving their behaviour goals. You must create a ‘story of behaviour’ with your voice, a story that makes sense to everyone in the room. Use logical phrases such as, “As I have told you already two times not to talk out of turn Lil’ Jonny, yet you have persisted, therefore I have no choice but to send you to-” and so forth.
This method is the most effective if consistent and can sometimes stand alone.
Explanation of the Five Cruxes shall continue in Part IV.
~ by Jon, a Secondary Teacher working in London schools through Protocol Education. Click here to read more by Jon.
Related Blogs and Pages
Managing Behaviour in Secondary Classrooms: Part One
Teaching Troublesome Teens: How to Remain Positive!
Gareth's Blog: Teaching Modern Classics
Protocol's Facebook - Protocol's Twitter - Protocol's Pinterest
Tags: Jon, Teacher, Canadian Teacher, OTT, Overseas Trained Teacher, Behaviour Management, Secondary, Five Cruzes, Harry Potter
Category: Supply Teaching
Read: Managing Behaviour in Secondary Classrooms: Part Three
16-05-2012
Lisa is a Canadian-trained Primary/Secondary Teacher working in Luton schools through Protocol Education Watford. The “Art” of SEAL : Explaining Emotions through Art. "SEAL means Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning"...Tags: Liss, Teacher, Primary, Secondary, Canadian Trained Teacher, OTT, Teach in Luton, SEAL, Art
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15-05-2012
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Category: Supply Teaching
12-05-2012
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Category: Supply Teaching
11-05-2012
Anne is a Learning Support Assistant working through Protocol Education in SEN and mainstream schools in London. Registering for supply LSA work I joined the Protocol Education supply pool just over a year ago and am grateful to the Protocol...Tags: AnneR, LSA, Learning Support Assistant, SEN, Supply, Teach in London, Schools
Category: Supply Teaching
Read: Anne's SEN Blog: Working as a Learning Support Assistant
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