Behaviour and progress

2018 November 19 Monday 21:05

During initial teacher training a book entitled something akin to "getting the buggers to behave" was cited. No, the portfolio is not about to be searched to find it ("last time you looked at yours?" ;) ), nor is precious time to be wasted to search for an internet hyperlink. As known, there are the multitude of theories, strategies etc. that us novices are supposed to incorporate enthusiastically, regardless of any actual efficacy. To be fair, some are useful (e.g. being relentlessly calm is amusingly dis-arming at times; otherwise it's depressing that behaviour and the impact upon actual learning is so detrimental. Too often this term, the natural enthusiasm of the most able students is visibly being dulled (literally and metaphorically) by others who in all honesty should be elsewhere. Yes, the research tells us that mixed ability classes are beneficial and motivational to the average and below, but unfortunately the most able aren't consistently challenged. What to do, when the (financial) pressure for bums on seats means that beggars can't be choosers...