Quick and effective tips to positive behaviour management for teaching assistants

Effective behaviour management is a vital element of working as a teaching assistant. Here are some quick and effective tips to help you positively manage behaviour in class.

Establish your expectations

You need to make your students aware of the ground rules and exactly what you expect of them. If you don’t do this clearly and concisely, they have no goal posts to aim for, they don’t know what’s acceptable and what isn’t, and it’s difficult to discipline students for doing something that goes against your rules, when they were unaware the rules existed.

Develop a positive working environment

If you want students to behave positively, you need to create a positive environment of trust concerning the rules. When you’re clear about your expectations and don’t deviate from them, enforce the rules you have set out, and reward the behaviour of those who keep to them. They will know where they stand, and you will find it much easier to effectively manage their behaviour.

Use your body language and voice

The way you move and the tone of your voice are key to effective behaviour management. Make sure your voice is always calm – shouting only indicates to your students that you are no longer in control. It’s far more effective to speak to individuals about their behaviour one-on-one. Don’t shout at them in front of the whole class, but have a quiet word instead.

Consider where you are in relation to your pupils. Is it always best to stand at the front? If you have a group, or individual student who is misbehaving, moving to stand near them while you speak to the group or class as a whole will help.

Establish a routine

Ensure you have a set routine that students can get used to. They will learn what you expect from them and when. Establish signals to indicate to them that you want silence, and ensure they know how long they have to fall quiet.

Positive reinforcement

It’s easy to think discipline relies on punishing poor behaviour, but it’s as much (if not more) about reinforcing good behaviour. Always ensure you find the positive aspects of every student and praise those traits. You should do this for all your students, even the ones who misbehave. Enforce the fact that good behaviour will be rewarded, and demonstrate that – even when they’re acting out and you have to take them to task – you can see and recognise in them their potential and positive qualities.

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