FD SUPPORTING TEACHING AND LEARNING BEHAVIOUR - THEORY

Teaching Assistants Handbook, Burnham and Jones, 2004) When looking at behaviour which is acceptable, adults should be aware that we all have different ideas and expectations. We should recognise that our ideas about what is acceptable or unacceptable will come from our own experiences and cultures. Children may therefore enter schools and nurseries with a variety of accepted ‘normal’ behaviour”.

Theories about behaviour 1 Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura) Developed in the late 1960s. He suggested that children will learn behaviours by copying the behaviour of those around them – adults and later their peers. Thus it is important that children have good role models for behaviour so that they can learn appropriate behaviour themselves. What does this mean for the teacher/teaching assistant? Give some personal examples.

Theories about behaviour 2 Behaviourist Theory (Skinner) Developed in the 1940s. He suggests that children will respond to praise and so will repeat behaviour which gives them recognition or praise for what they do. What does this means for the teacher/ teaching assistant? Give some personal examples.

Theories about behaviour 3 Self-fulfilling prophecy theory – this suggests that children will be influenced by the way in which adults think about them. When a child is thought of as ‘good’ their opinion will encourage and influence the behaviour of that child. If a child is thought of as ‘naughty’, the child will live up to this expectation. What does this means for the teacher/teaching assistant? Give some personal examples.

STRATEGIES TO MANAGE BEHAVIOUR Schools need to develop a series of agreed strategies to use both for managing unwanted behaviour and rewarding positive behaviour. Where children are showing inappropriate behaviour it is important for staff to know when to intervene especially where children are a danger to themselves or others.

National Guidelines and Policies On a national level training for behaviour management outlines some core principles to help those who are working with children. These include – Plan for good behaviour   Work within the 4 Rs (Rules, Routines, Responsibilities and Rights) framework Separate the inappropriate behaviour from the child Use the language of choice Actively build trust and rapport Model the behaviour that you want to see

Steer Report See next presentation