Behavior is a crucial aspect of school improvement, setting the foundation for success in curriculum and pedagogy.
The behavior book offers practical strategies tailored to the different needs and roles of educators, aiming to establish a positive classroom culture.
Deep dives
Importance of Behavior in School Improvement
Behavior in schools is crucial for overall school improvement. Getting behavior right sets the foundation for success in other areas such as curriculum, teaching, and pedagogy. The speaker emphasizes the significance of focusing on behavior as a school improvement priority. By addressing behavior issues, schools can create an environment where everything can click into place and where teaching and learning can thrive.
Purpose of Writing a Behavior Book
The speaker discusses the motivation behind writing a behavior book. They express regret for not having written it first among their other books and explain that behavior is a critical aspect of a school's functioning. The book aims to provide practical, concise, and precise strategies that educators can easily implement. By offering clear and practical guidance, the book helps teachers streamline their behavior management practices and establish a positive classroom culture.
Differentiated Approach to Behavior Management
The speaker explains their approach to behavior management, which considers three key layers within a school: senior leadership, middle leaders, and classroom teachers. The book offers specific strategies for each layer, recognizing the varying roles and responsibilities of educators. The goal is to provide targeted support and resources that align with the different needs and contexts of educators in order to create a cohesive and effective behavior management approach within the entire school community.
Supporting Teachers and Students with Behavior Challenges
The speaker acknowledges the existence of students who struggle to conform to behavior systems, often due to neurodiversity or social factors. They emphasize the importance of identifying these students and providing appropriate support. The speaker shares examples of programs and initiatives implemented in their school, such as counseling, alternate provision, and designated support groups. The overall goal is to create a positive, inclusive school culture that addresses the needs of all students and helps them succeed academically and emotionally.
For this episode, Tom and Emma welcome author and head teacher Sam Strickland to the podcast. The trio opened season three and the new school year by discussing a major topic in education: behavior. In this discussion, the trio delves into creating and managing behavior-based systems, managing expectations, advice for new educators, and much more. Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode.
Tom, Emma, and Sam also discuss Sam’s new book, The Behaviour Manual: An Educator's Guidebook; Sam outlines his three key audiences, including senior leaders, middle leaders, and classroom teachers. The book is a collection of “short, sharp, and precise” manuals that teachers and administrators can use to architect school and classroom cultures.
About the participants:
Sam Strickland began his teaching career as a history teacher in Bedfordshire, having completed his PGCE in secondary history at the University of Cambridge. His career quickly accelerated, becoming a head of history and classics. After several leadership positions, Sam is now the principal of a large all-through school. Sam is the author of three books, including Education Exposed I and II and, most recently, The Behaviour Manual: An Educator's Guidebook. Follow Sam on Twitter @Strickomaster
Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. His books include Teaching WalkThrus,Rosenshine’s Principles in Action, andThe Learning Rainforest Fieldbook. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter @teacherhead
