Be better with low level disruption Ruth Powley

Create habits Use Cue, Routine, Reward i. Establish your cues e.g. Meet & Greet ii. Establish your routines e.g. Seat signals, how to begin a lesson iii. Establish your rewards e.g. positive reinforcement Narrate the world you expect in “Mr X’s classroom” Ensure the classroom environment reinforces this Practice, practice, practice In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg argues that “habits are at the root of how we behave. They can be changed, if we understand how they work.”

Talking in class Use your body language Apply the 100% rule: ‘I need 3 people..’ Use take-up time: Signal, pause, insist Model calmness Maximise vision: Stay at the desk – students to you Keep a peripheral location 3B4 Me techniques to minimise teacher distraction Pick off talkers: at the desk, outside, quiet word Use positive dots for ‘on task’ work

Calling Out Use the no hands up rule Cultivate tactical deafness “clearly I did not hear” Use the tactical pause Use the SLANT technique: Sit up straight Listen hard Ask and answer questions Nod sensibly Track the speaker Use seat signals. More Teaching Doug Lemov says, “no matter how great the lesson, if students aren’t alert, sitting up, and actively listening, teaching them is like pouring water into a leaky bucket.”

Being slow to start work or follow instructions Use a choral response Have a Do Now task on the board Ensure that instructions are clear and do-able Remember the 100% rule: I need 3 people Create dynamic e.g. Countdowns Establish quick routine movements from place to place or activity to activity Have a ‘because you’re worth it’ philosophy

Lack of respect for others/ staff Zero tolerance of lack of respect for others: “We do not...Not OK” What have I done... [Comedy] reframe Do it again and do it right

Lack of homework or equipment Adopt a ‘because you’re worth it philosophy Focus on/ reinforce good behaviour Incentivise: learning treats for those bringing homework/ equipment – not rewarding the minimum but acknowledging compliance Have spare equipment, but not as nice as learning treats! Use the 68 Ways to get Homework in68 Ways to get Homework in

Practice Clarify: make habits specific and concrete. For instance, model ‘SLANT’, don’t just tell students to ’concentrate’. Drill: make students practice routines until they can do them right. Autopilot: build habits so that students can do them on autopilot. Shorten the Feedback Loop: give immediate feedback Thumbs Up: identify what’s going right, help students to repeat it. Make It Fun to Practice: integrate elements of play, competition and surprise to make it enjoyable. “Student culture makes sure students build the habits of mind and heart that allow their learning to fly. It is not built by motivational speeches or statements of value. It is formed by repeated practice: using every minute of every day to build good habits.” Bambrick-Santoyo

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