Mr Barton Maths Podcast #206 Mastering classroom management with Ollie Lovell and Mark Dowley
Jul 29, 2025
Ollie Lovell and Mark Dowley, co-authors of The Classroom Management Handbook, dive into key principles for effective classroom management. They emphasize mastering one's own behavior to positively influence students, treating behavior as a curriculum, and celebrating success as the ultimate motivator. The discussion includes practical scripts for teachers to implement these principles, highlighting the importance of emotional regulation and connection with students. Their insights offer valuable strategies for both new and experienced educators navigating classroom challenges.
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Use Worked Examples And Deliberate Practice
- Use short, worked examples and scripts to teach novice teachers exactly what to say and do.
- Combine those scripts with deliberate practice so teachers rehearse routines until automatic.
First Lesson Chaos Sparked Learning
- Mark's first practical PE lesson was chaos: students rotated, equipment flew and he panicked.
- He sought help from his mentor and Bill Rogers' book, which began his behaviour-management journey.
Control Your Behaviour First
- Manage only your own behaviour: tone, posture and voice are your tools, not controlling students.
- Default to calm and consistent because that stabilises classrooms more than anger or sarcasm.
