One of the main issues teachers have in classrooms is the management of behaviour of their students. It has recently been noted that low level disruption (chatting, messing about and generally not getting on with the task in hand) is losing up to an hour a week from every child’s school time. What are the ways that teachers can maintain decorum in their classrooms?

1. Praise students who are doing the right thing – this often rubs off on the others.

2. Always challenge low level disruption – nip it in the bud and make a routine out of stopping it early.

3. Be consistent with your expectations – students like to feel secure in their classroom, and having a solid routine helps with this security.

4. Use rewards and sanctions to help encourage what you want – follow the school behaviour policy if there is one, and don’t be afraid to have your own expectations (consistently of course!)