BEHAVIOUR NEEDS

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MINI-COURSE

Classroom Management
Mini Course

How to PREVENT and DEAL with

Behaviour Problems in the Classroom

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www.behaviourneeds.com

Part 7

BEHAVIOUR NEEDS

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MINI-COURSE

Part 7

Part 7
The Needs-focused Approach
Satisfying the need for FUN

For some teachers, the idea of having to make lessons fun just so that disengaged students
might take a bit more interest doesnt sit too well. Their opinion is that one of the most
important things young people should learn is this:
Life isnt always fun and there are times you just have to get on with it. You are in
school to learn, not waste your time having fun.
Its true of course - children go to school to learn. Most people, therefore, would agree with the
above statement and so do I. But only to a certain extent; please allow me to digress for a
moment
Many years ago, at the start of my teaching career, I attended an interview for a post
working with a group of children with Special Educational Needs at a prestigious high
school in Cumbria. The formal interview was held in the afternoon but before that I had to
teach a demonstration lesson I was nervous under scrutiny, naturally, but by the end I was
reasonably happy with my performance.
After lunch I was grilled by the panel that consisted of the Head Teacher, four senior
teachers, and two governors. The Head was a particularly charismatic man with a
cheerful, welcoming manner which helped soothe my interview nerves, but when it was his
turn to question me he held his chin thoughtfully, paused and peered down his nose at me, just
long enough to leave me feeling like a specimen under a microscope. Unease stirred within
me.
Ive got some excellent teachers at this school, Mr Plevin, he said. In my mind I was already
thanking them for their time as my optimism began to drain away, and I was convincing myself
that my teaching style hadnt reached the required standard. Yes, excellent teachers. But do
you know what? Not one of them could do what you just did in that classroom with those
students. The way you held the attention of that group was exceptional.
I couldnt have been more taken aback if hed hit me with a sock full of custard. I was
embarrassed if truth be known and I looked in surprise at their smiling faces. But the Head
hadnt finished.

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BEHAVIOUR NEEDS

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MINI-COURSE

Part 7

However His tone changed as he put his hands on his knees and fixed me with a
searching stare. What I want to know is - just what did those children actually learn?
Theres no doubt you can entertain my students, but what did you actually teach them?
I realised his opening praise had been directed at my ability as an entertainer, not a teacher.
He was dead right of course, and his question had knocked me sideways. My philosophy up to
that point had been based on entertaining the students in my classroom after all, if they are
engaged and not giving me behaviour headaches, then the lesson must be a success right?
And suddenly, in the middle of that interview, I found my own skills and values under close
scrutiny. To cut a long story short I was offered a job at that school but not the one I had
applied for. I was offered an entirely different role leading a new department on a higher pay
scale and
...I turned it down.
I remember clearly the look on the face of that noble and passionate Head Teacher as he
said to me When would you be able to start? and I replied Im sorry, Im afraid I will
have to decline your kind offer. As a result of this interview Im going to go and reassess
my career. Without intending to he had knocked the stuffing right out of me.
We chatted for some time and parted on good terms. I often think back to that day
because it marked a huge turning point for me. It taught me a lesson that led to me changing
the way I teach, and has undoubtedly been a contributory factor in the development of
the Needs Focused programme and my business, Behaviour Needs Ltd.
Making lessons fun is NOT enough to stop behaviour problems, and it isnt going to
miraculously transform your challenging class into hard-working star students. Without
the application of other key teaching and classroom management skills a fun lesson may well
turn into a free-for-all, particularly with a challenging group, and will only serve to build you a
reputation as a walk-over.
The aim should be to improve all aspects of your lesson delivery and content. Yes, there will
be fun. Kids like to have fun and when learning is fun studies have found it to be much more
successful. But in addition to fun we need to make lessons relevant, interactive and
memorable. Lets face it, even the most talented entertainer gets a bit boring after a while
when you are limited to the role of passive spectator. Kids need activity, challenge and
interaction they need to be able to do rather than just watch or listen - they need to be fully
involved in the learning process.
Im sure youre already aware of that and have almost certainly stayed up into the early hours
on many occasions planning engaging lesson activities only to have students throw them back
in your face. Its soul destroying when that happens but there is another element to a

2011 Behaviour Needs All Rights Reserved

www.behaviourneeds.com

BEHAVIOUR NEEDS

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MINI-COURSE

Part 7

successful lesson which I believe makes it easier to make sure your lessons appeal to your
students their preconceived opinions and feelings.
I like to use the simple analogy of your students each carrying an emotion rucksack on their
backs as they enter your lessons. If they arrive with the opinion or feeling that the lesson,
(based on their previous experience), is something they will have to endure for the next hour
something boring, irrelevant to them, perhaps embarrassing or difficult their
rucksack will be filled with negative emotions before they even set foot in the room.
And trying to teach students who have this view of your lessons is very, very hard. When they
have already made up their minds that your lesson is something theyre NOT going to enjoy or
get any benefit from, youve definitely got a battle on your hands.
Wouldnt it be easier if your students actually looked forward to your lesson? I know, it sounds
ridiculous but despite what youre thinking right now, getting to this stage with most, if not all, of
your students is actually very achievable.
Getting back to the rucksack, all we have to do is change the contents.
When those same students start turning up to class carrying a rucksack with a little bit of
intrigue, perhaps recollections of a few laughs they had last lesson, a feeling of success and
achievement at having understood a difficult concept for the first time or the expectation that
they are going to enjoy a certain activity, they become totally different animals.
And the results are cumulative. The more malleable and responsive they are, the more you
enjoy teaching them, the more success you can have with them with the result that their
respect for you grows and they start to look forward to your time together even more.
Eventually lessons become an absolute JOY for both parties and your least favourite group
gradually becomes the source of your most treasured teaching moments.
It all starts with changing the experiences they have in your lessons making sure that the
hour they spend with you is a positive, enjoyable event. There will be ups and downs, for sure,
but by including certain key elements and activities in your lessons you will see a noticeable
improvement in terms of engagement, participation and overall student enjoyment.
These are the features your lessons should include, whenever possible:
1. Attention-grabbing starter activities to get the lesson off to a flying start
2. Energisers to raise the spirits of a flagging group
3. Active teaching and learning ideas to get students doing
4. Cooperative learning arrangements to get students working with each other
5. Novel, quirky, fun fill-ins to break negative patterns of behaviour and create a positive
learning environment such as music, funny video clips, puzzles, magic tricks etc.

2011 Behaviour Needs All Rights Reserved

www.behaviourneeds.com

BEHAVIOUR NEEDS

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MINI-COURSE

Part 7

6. Curriculum-related magic tricks to capture students interest

7. Whiteboard resources - flash games and tools
8. A variety of teaching activities appealing to different learning styles
To help you on your quest to find such activities and Ive provided you with a free report today
packed with activities that will help you start adding positive experiences to your students
rucksacks.
Remember, when your students find your lessons engaging, interesting and fun, there is far
less chance that they will need to find their own fun by misbehaving!
You can get your free report here:
http://www.lesson-ology/samplepack

Best wishes,
Rob Plevin
Director
Behaviour Needs Ltd

2011 Behaviour Needs All Rights Reserved

www.behaviourneeds.com