About the Book

A practical guide to building confidence and well being in the classroom. Creating a Positive Learning Environment: The Savvy Teacher is based on the school of thought that teachers need to work with two curriculas - the first being the what they are going to teach, the 'open curriculum', and the second being knowing who and how they are going to teach it, the 'hidden curriculum'. It is the focus on the combination of who, how and what that will increase a teacher's sense of confidence and well being, and ultimately lead to a positive learning environment for their students. This book studies four areas of classroom management - Proactive, Interactive, Restorative and Supportive. Part A: Becoming a Savvy Teacher clearly outlines the theory, practical strategies, skills and techniques that every graduate teacher needs to know, understand and be able to apply, in order to skilfully manage their students. Part B: Being a Savvy Teacher presents common graduate teacher questions, allowing readers to dip in and read a suggested solution to their problem, with cross references to the theory in Part A. The questions in Part B are divided across four terms, and reflect the different issues that may arise as the year progresses.KEY FEATURESDesigned for easy navigation between the two partsAITSL standards are referencedConversational writing styleHandy hints provide simple reminders of practical tipsMemorable phrases to use when faced with a difficult situation.

Table of Contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A: BECOMING A SAVVY TEACHER The First Day: Creating a positive learning environment1 Being prepared: Proactive management Organising the learning spacePlanning for behaviour Understanding behaviour Establishing positive relationships A quick reminder2 Developing strategies: Interactive management How do I respond to behaviour? Settling in Steps toward interactive management Step 1: Preventing strategically Step 2: Correcting assertively Step 3: Supporting empathically Step 4: Affirming strategically ‘Be firm, be fair, be kind’ A quick reminder3 Knowing what to do when things go wrong: Restorative management How do I restore situations, relationships and facilitate behaviour change? Discipline—an overview Step 5: How can I follow through when students need to learn to behave differently and make reparation? Strategies for students to self-manage Self-reflection Reflective exercise with problem solving A quick reminder4 Enable yourself, enable others: Supportive management What do I need to know to manage myself in a school — what is expected of me? Be prepared—enable yourself Building support and relationships with colleagues Building support and relationships with parents Building a positive relationship with parents Resources for teachers A quick reminderPART B: BEING A SAVVY TEACHER Teachers’ StoriesTerm 1: Proactive 1. My first day and my first class—yay, I’m good to go!2. How can I teach my students to behave?3. How do I get my students to pay attention?4. What can I do about daily misbehaviour?5. How do I settle a class so we can start learning?6. What can I do when my students are restless and off task?7. How do I manage when younger students are emotionally upset?8. How do I get respect from students?9. How can I ensure the correct use of technology in class?Term 2: Interactive 10. How do I deal with low-level, irritating misbehaviours?11. What can I do about a noisy class?12. How do I manage unkind behaviours in younger students?13. What can I do when students ignore my instructions?14. How do I manage young students who don’t follow my instructions?15. Why do some students take so long to move between activities and lessons?16. What can I do about students who repeatedly seek attention?17. What can I do when students challenge me?18. How do I manage when students are anxious or emotionally upset?19. How can I ensure I don’t neglect my ‘good’ students?Term 3: Restorative 20. It’s a new term—why have my students forgotten to behave?21. Why don’t students listen and do as I ask?22. How can my students learn to be better organised?23. What can I do when I feel my class is getting out of control?24. What do I do when students blame others?25. Why can I do when students say ‘No!’ and won’t cooperate?26. What can I do when older students won’t cooperate?27. What works best when applying consequences?28. How do I manage hurtful behaviours in older students?29. How can I build a cohesive and caring class?30. What can I do when students are disengaged and negative?31. How can I build students’ self-esteem?Term 4: Supportive 32. How can I support CRTs to manage my class?33. Teaching in a multi-cultural situation—what do I need to remember?34. What do I do when students are really mean and hurtful to others?35. How do I manage extremely challenging behaviours?36. What do I do when students say they ‘don’t care?37. How can I best manage students with special needs in my class?38. How can I build resilience in my students?39. How do I know when to call on the school’s behaviour management practices?40. What can I do to maintain positive relationships with my colleagues?41. How can I build positive relationships with parents?