Better Classroom Behaviour
by Phil Freeman and Mary Hartley (illustrated by Craig Dixon) Pub. Chalkface Project ISBN 1 86025 448 9
Better Classroom Behaviour is not a book as such. It's a well-introduced teachers' activity pack for Key Stage 3 & 4 PSE lessons. The two authors have a wealth of classroom experience between them, and the 'Points To Be Aware Of' section in the Teachers' Notes that accompany each activity suggest that all of these activities have been tried-and-tested.
The 28 Activities on offer range from basic self-awareness and awareness of others to school-specific problems such as lesson disruption, working in groups and bullying. Much thought has obviously gone into the ordering of activities, which, used in sequence, would make a logical and satisfying year's PSE work.
The activities are:
1 WHY HAVE SCHOOLS? The role of schools in promoting learning and good behaviour
2 MY PREVIOUS SCHOOL Focusing on learning and development in previous schools
3 TICKS AND CROSSES Evaluating the system of rewards and sanctions in the school
4 RULES OKAY A prioritising task to assess the relative importance of particular rules in society
5 RULES AT WORK AND PLAY Looking at the importance of rules at work and in sport
6 WHAT A GOOD LESSON! Discussing the conditions necessary for effective learning
7 TEACHERS ARE HUMAN TOO A scriptwriting activity to raise awareness of teachers’
feelings and emotions
8 BE NICE TO YOUR TEACHER Devising guidelines to promote positive behaviour in class
9 WHERE YOU WORK A design activity focusing on how the arrangement of furniture can
affect the working environment
10 THEY’RE DISTRACTING ME! How to deal with anti-social and distracting behaviour
11 A PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT Planning a campaign to improve the school environment
12 BEHIND THE BIKE SHEDS Encouraging better behaviour in the school’s ‘trouble spots’
13 PARTNERSHIP The partnership of parents, students and school in effective education
14 THE IMAGE PROBLEM Reflecting on the school’s image in the wider community
15 IN MY DAY... Analysing how education and schools have changed over the years
16 RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT Looking at Records of Achievement and their purpose
17 GOOD TIMING Devising strategies for improving attendance and punctuality
18 BE SMART Producing a plan for encouraging the school to wear the uniform correctly
19 TOOLS OF THE TRADE Creating a story to illustrate the importance of having all the
equipment necessary for lessons
20 ROLE MODELS Raising awareness of the importance of suitable role models
21 BEING PRACTICAL Focusing on the need for clear behaviour guidelines in practical lessons
22 IN GROUPS A planning activity focusing on the skills of group work
23 CLASS CLOWN Devising strategies for dealing with class attention-seekers
24 TALKING OUT OF TURN Looking at the importance of appropriate language
25 NO AGGRO Planning a documentary on the subject of aggression and violence in school
26 BULLYING OFF Creating a policy for dealing with bullying
27 MIXED OR SINGLES? Debating the advantages and disadvantages of single sex learning
28 I’M OKAY Devising strategies for raising self- esteem
Each activity comes as a photocopiable student's worksheet, with attractive cartoons by Craig Dixon. Each worksheet introduces four assignments (tailored to a one-hour PSE lesson.) The accompanying Teacher's Notes recommend which assignments should be done individually, in groups, orally, in role-play or as a written exercise. The Teacher's Notes also provide suggestions for extending the topic beyond the worksheet.
This is a valuable contribution to the relatively-new discipline of PSE, which teachers of all subjects could usefully read.
