The foundation of successful teaching and learning in the classroom is the implementation of behaviour management strategies. However, it can be challenging to determine which behaviour management techniques are most effective for younger students in Primary schools. This is because their ability to reason may not be as strong as that of children in secondary schools.
What makes behaviour management strategies crucial in primary schools?
To create a perfect learning environment and teach children the fundamentals of life, teachers should spend more time with their students. Lessons should be engaging to manage their behaviour and control the emotions of students.
Behaviour management strategies work both ways between students and teachers. Using the right tactics will help prevent students from misbehaving, wherein you can cooperate to make a change in their behaviour and help them solve problems.
Give the students clear guidelines and share your expectations
Primary School students should be provided with clear guidance as to how they should behave in class, as per the School’s/Teacher’s expectations. These regulations and standards will serve as a foundation for their primary education, and this will be essential for their secondary education.
At the level of primary school, keep the guidelines and expectations clear, straightforward, and easy to remember. For example:
Telling them
- To be on their best behaviour
- Never use hurtful words
- Keep quiet when the other person is talking
- Be Honest
- Be kind
- Try to make others happy
- Keep the classroom Tidy
- Respecting others and their thoughts
- Listening to the Teachers and classmates
- Try your best to do something good.
- If they want to speak during the class, they need to raise their hand
- Ask for help whenever needed
- Do not run inside the school building; instead, walk normally
Counting Down can be Helpful
Many teachers have been using this classic technique, where counting down to 10 from any number helps them to keep students quiet. Counting allows the students to clean themselves up, finish whatever they are doing and get back to their desks. Once the kids get used to the counting-down technique, they will speed up naturally when they hear the counting. They will also be affected by their fellow kids when they see the other kids reacting to the counting and start copying them.
For some teachers ‘quiet, please’ might not work, but the counting-down technique can be effective.
Trying positive reinforcement strategies
Praising the Kids can act as positive reinforcement and can stop bad behaviour before it starts. Make sure to praise them only if they have done something worth achieving, but be specific about it. The next time, the child will make an effort in trying to do good things.
If you are praising the kid publicly, like in class, the other kids will be encouraged to contribute to getting praised. Private praise will help create a good bond/relationship between the student and the teacher. Having a good relationship will help you to guide the student in a more relaxed tone.
Using the Football Penalty System
Showing students Yellow or red cards is a technique where you give them a warning or a penalty, like in a football game. You can give them a warning by showing a yellow card for the first poor behaviour, making the student aware. Doing this publicly will make the student aware that he or she has made a mistake, and the child will try to avoid making any further mistakes (avoid the red card penalty).
However, all of this should be done politely, and the children should feel like they are playing a game.
Make them work together
Primary school children will feel more proud and accountable and be inspired to collaborate as a community if they are involved in different tasks in the classroom. They will feel more involved in the classroom if they are allowed to assist in creating wall displays and choosing where items are stored. Consider assigning them tasks like rearranging the bookshelves or stationery cabinet, requesting their thoughts and suggestions, and praising them for a job well done. Make sure that everyone contributes at some time when performing this in small groups. When kids are proud of their classroom, it inspires better behaviour and a desire to maintain order in the class.
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