1. The Craft of the Tallis Classroomor
The Lighthouse and the Terrier

2. Basic Rules Keep your room tidy Impose a seating plan
Learn and use children’s names
Never allow talking when you are teaching the class
Achieve and use silence every lesson

3. 1. Plan everything a. Plan lessons with timings
b. Have enough of everything you need.
c. Know the behaviour system inside.
d. Have a back-up plan if the IT fails.
e. Be exact about timings at the beginning and the end
f. Always be packed up on time

4. 2. Rule the room Train your classes to line up sensibly.
Be in the room first.
Exchange pleasantries.
The children are invited guests, on your terms.
Look to your display boards.
Deal with any graffiti IMMEDIATELY.

5. g. Keep the front desk tidy
Make sure the room is left tidy
Establish routines
Tidy up a messy room
Challenge colleagues who leave rooms messy
Just water, no gum
Allow toileting on your terms

6. 3. Own the Seating
As a default, arrange the desks in rows facing the front.
Enforce a seating plan for every class .
Learn the children’s names. Learn their names.
Split difficult groups up
Use group work and tables ONLY when you are able to control the class
Use horseshoe arrangements with care. .
Put troublemakers at the back

7. 4. Be the Lighthouse Constantly scan the room.
All children should face you at all times
Don’t fiddle with your laptop.
Don’t use complicated technology if it slows down learning.
Don’t turn your back for more than 5 seconds at a time.
Call children to your desks to help them.
Cultivate withitness. Don’t miss a thing.

8. 5. Claim the silence a. Train the class to work in silence
b. Quash disrupters.
c. Be the lighthouse
d. Use the sanctions
e. Differentiate so that all children learn silence
f. Confiscate phones that get in the way of learning.

9. 6. One voice
No one talks over you.

10. 7. Make yourself clear Give clear instructions
Exaggerate the distinctions between activities.
If there is any moving to be done start with stillness
Give positive instructions.
Never ask a question to which you don’t want the obvious answer.
Always give specific instructions for behaviour.
Sound pompous, be the terrier

11. 8. Keep it civil Good manners are kindness in action.
Model the behaviour and the respect you want
Start each lesson with a polite taking of the register.
Make eye contact with each child, frequently.
Always be polite with ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’.
Don’t shout
Don’t be sarcastic.
Make your instruction then back off for 90 seconds.
Don’t get into argy-bargy.
Never allow a child to speak disrespectfully to you.

12. 9. Be the Terrier (friendly but determined)
Get the basics in place
Expect it to be difficult
Praise effort.
Don’t give too much publicity to troublemakers.
Let your no be no.
Use a formal voice and register.
Follow school conventions and rules

13. 10. Take it seriously You are always responsible for behaviour
You are responsible in assembly
Sort it out yourself first before you pass it up.
Pace yourself. Don’t get overtired.
Work with your team persistently on behaviour.
Your aim is good order, with children working and thinking hard.

14. If you can do all this, you’ve got it

15. Education to understand the world and change it for the better