Tom Bennett, founder of ResearchEd and acclaimed author, dives into the realms of classroom behavior and education. He discusses the vital role of self-discipline over mere motivation for student success. Bennett explores how disruptive behaviors hinder learning and advocates for structured environments. He also addresses modern distractions, emphasizing the need for silence to enhance focus. He delves into the emotional aspects influencing educational achievement and reflects on restoring faith in educational institutions amidst skepticism.
Teaching self-discipline and hard work to students is essential for bridging the gap between their ambitions and necessary efforts required for success.
Addressing low-level disruptions in the classroom is crucial for maintaining focus and maximizing instructional time for all students.
Establishing a behavior curriculum and fostering parental involvement enhances student behavior and promotes a positive educational experience through shared responsibility.
Deep dives
The Importance of Self-Discipline
Self-discipline, self-regulation, and hard work are essential characteristics that contribute to an individual's success across various contexts. The notion that these qualities can be taught to young people, rather than indulging them with immediate gratification, is emphasized as a critical responsibility of educators. For example, the speaker reflects on experiences with students who aspire to high goals, like becoming a footballer, but do not understand the effort required to achieve those dreams. This highlights a broader concern about the disconnect between ambition and the strategies needed to attain success.
Behavior as a Fundamental Concern
The significance of behavior in the classroom is discussed, underscoring how misbehavior can disrupt not only the learning process for individual students but also affect the entire class. Low-level disruptions are deemed detrimental, as they hinder students' cognitive focus and overall classroom productivity. For instance, research indicates that teachers may lose substantial time each day managing disruptive behavior, which ultimately detracts from valuable instructional time. Creating a structured and respectful environment is portrayed as imperative for fostering effective learning.
The Role of Expectations in Education
Establishing clear expectations for behavior is presented as essential for developing positive school culture. This concept, referred to as the 'behavior curriculum,' involves teaching students how to behave appropriately in various situations and reinforcing these norms consistently. Having defined procedures for common classroom scenarios empowers students to self-regulate and minimizes the likelihood of misbehavior. Moreover, this preparatory work aids in combating any natural tendencies towards disruptive behavior, enhancing overall classroom harmony and productivity.
The Impact of Parenting and Communication
The dynamics between parental involvement and student behavior are identified as critical in setting the stage for a positive educational experience. Open communication and collaboration between schools and parents encourage a shared responsibility for children's education, fostering an understanding of the importance of structure and discipline. By reinforcing the idea that education requires mutual effort, parents can positively influence their children's behaviors in the classroom. The speaker stresses the need for transparent and supportive relationships with parents to enhance student outcomes.
Insights from Personal Experience
The discussion leads to personal reflections on the speaker's journey in education and parenting, illustrating how experiences as a teacher influence parenting approaches. The understanding that every child requires guidance and that teaching should extend beyond academic subjects to include life skills is emphasized. This insight fosters a desire to engage meaningfully with children, ensuring they are prepared for challenges both academically and socially. The importance of modeling good behavior and self-regulation at home parallels the efforts made in a classroom, underscoring a holistic approach to development.
This week on Sweat the Technique, Doug sits down with behavior and teaching expert Tom Bennett.
Tom is the director and founder of ResearchEd, which has supported teachers by making information about science and research directly accessible to them. He’s the author of books on teaching and behavior, especially Running the Room. He’s been made OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to Great Britain.
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