Behaviour Management – Happy Schools

The Joy of Change (Part 2)

February 16, 2023

In part 1, I talked about the neuroplasticity of the brain and the importance of the heart level emotional connection of the “what’s in it for me if I change” component. Learning If we want someone to do something different, we have to give them enough information, knowledge and training to feel supported and confident that they can do what is being asked of them. Learning makes a huge difference. It is also the way to keep our brains young and vital; and not just simple stuff – we have to learn things that are completely different or something we have never done before. Even before I learned about this, I had always had a dream to play the harp.…

Successful Parent Information Sessions

February 2, 2023

Stevef

Behaviour Management

Parent information sessions are often the first point of contact between parents and teachers. They present a unique opportunity for teachers to showcase their own strengths and those of the school. Maximising this opportunity can improve the quality of communication and cooperation between parents and school staff. This can set us up for success throughout the entire year by building solid working relationships with parents, enhancing the professional image of the teacher, showcasing the school as a well-organised and high quality learning environment and demonstrating the teacher’s commitment and enthusiasm. Many teachers present confidently in front of their students but are nervous about presenting to adults. It’s important to be clear on your intentions for the session and to think…

Efficient or Effective – Part 1

August 11, 2022

Stevef

Activities

“I want to be more efficient and effective!” is a statement often heard in schools. Yet many people aren’t clear on the difference between being more efficient and being more effective. They are not interchangeable words and represent completely separate goals. Efforts to improve “productivity” in the workplace often lead to confusion as to whether they need more efficiency or more effectiveness. As a result, nothing much changes. Understanding the two concepts and correctly identifying which you need to focus on, is critical. The easiest way to differentiate between the two concepts is… Efficient – Doing things right Effective – Doing the right things This simple definition cuts to the heart of the matter – efficient is about HOW you…

The R Word – Report Writing Stress

May 5, 2022

Stevef

Attitude

It’s that time of year for all teachers where the blood pressure and workload are rising, assessments are being marked, the students are tiring by the minute and I really need to make a start on my….(gasp) REPORTS! Here are some things you might like to try as you write your reports this year so that you do not need the first week of holidays to recover: 1) Create (and stick to) a simple timetable for completion so that the workload is spread out over a few weeks and you are not leaving them ALL until the last minute and have to pull an all-nighter (not mentioning any names here but you know who you are). I write mine down…

Developing a Growth Mindset

June 23, 2016

Stevef

Attitude

Dear Teachers Your students do have natural talent, abilities and intelligence in some areas but that’s not the end of the story. These things are not fixed traits. Some may have a gift for story writing, art, maths or sport, but it needs to be grown. Some may not be good at science, history or working with others…YET! Whatever the case for each student in your class, the reality is that natural talent, abilities and intelligence are developed over time. Through effort, persistence, practice and focused attention. The brain is a highly adaptive organ – it changes like a muscle through a process called neuroplasticity. From the cradle to the grave our brains are always changing. The malleable brain is…

5 Tips for Helping Students Stressed by Tests- by Eva-Maria

July 15, 2015

Stevef

Activities

Nineteen year old best-selling author of the book ‘You Shut Up!’, international speaker and certified coach Eva-Maria is living her dream: she is on a mission to help improve 10 000 000 relationships between adults and teenagers around the world. Here Eva shares her tips for teachers from a teenager’s perspective. 1. Acknowledge that exams are stressful When I was studying for exams, as I’m sure many teens can relate to, I thought the teachers were out to get me and wanted to push me to watch my brain start oozing out of my head. Reassure them that you’re really on their side. You are there to support and encourage them to achieve their potential. You want them to achieve…

Alternatives to Collective Punishment

March 26, 2015

Stevef

Behaviour Management

I suspect many teachers have had an experience like this: A paper airplane, ball of paper, or pencil flies through the air, or somebody makes an obnoxious noise. The object is probably aimed at another student, and it may or may not hit the intended target. The noise is just meant to be funny. You can tell the general area it came from, but you don’t really know who the culprit is. It’s frustrating because that kind of behaviour does not contribute to a learning community. What do you do? It’s not uncommon for teachers to first yell something like, “Who threw it?” No one admits to it, and then the teacher will punish the entire group. Here’s a definition…