Behaviour Management

Walking into a new school can be daunting enough without having to worry about classroom discipline and behaviour management, but this should be a great concern for those trying to establish themselves with respect in a new school, even for those teachers with many years experience. This section is not supposed to tell you how to do your job but it is to make you aware that behaviour management is totally different in the UK from what you are used to. This is one of the main areas our international teachers have experienced difficulty in and there is no easy solution.

"In fact, from talking to our teachers it is the most difficult thing they face when they arrive in the UK - i.e. getting used to "UK kids" because in certain circumstances or areas, they can be extremely challenging." (DFES/260/2002)

At Bluewave, we understand this and we have had many conversations with teachers about how frustrated and hopeless they feel in the first couple of weeks that they start teaching in the UK. Whilst we can't assist you in the classroom, we can however prepare you for this adjustment and make recommendations about how to reduce this time of increased stress.

Bluewave recommends the following strategies to help you understand behaviour management in the UK:

• Ask your supervisor about the whole school behaviour management philosophy
• Ask your supervisor about the in-class and out-of-class discipline procedures in the school
• Many of schools in the UK are multi-cultural so be aware of cultural differences that may affect behaviour such as eye contact, silence etc
• Understand that the students are going to push your boundaries to the absolute limits for the first couple of weeks

The Department for Education & Skills in the UK have highlighted 5 key elements in managing behaviour:

• Developing school and classroom rules
• Employing effective teaching techniques and skills
• Developing pupils self-concept
• Establishing good teacher/pupil relations
• Teaching personal and social education

(Source: Tattum. 1993. p159 in DFES publication Self Study Materials for Supply Teachers - Classroom and Behaviour management)

BUT most importantly, if you struggle for a couple of weeks don't be afraid to ask for help and whatever you do, don't take it personally, it does not make you a bad teacher, it just means that you have to learn a whole new approach to motivating your students to learn.

There is a great deal of useful information which can be obtained (as we have done) from the following websites:

Study Material - Introduction to Classroom and Behaviour Management
www.teachernet.gov.uk/supplyteachers/volume.cfm?&vid=4