Focus: channelling childrens' energy Young people have lots of energy - the younger they are, the more energy they tend to have. Aim to channel all this energy into purposeful classroom activities, so that you make the most of every opportunity for learning. This also encourages the pupils to behave themselves - they’re too busy working to think of messing around.
To channel your pupils' energy in the best possible way:
- Limit the amount of teacher talk, focus on getting the children active and busy. That way they will learn more, and are more likely to behave
- Ask lots of questions to get your children involved. Incorporate plenty of hands-on, practical activities into your lessons. Encourage your pupils to be teacher and deliver a bit of the work to their peers
- Capitalise on your pupils' feelings of energy and excitement. Use their urge to get going as a incentive to encourage good behaviour
- Create a sense of pace and forward momentum in the kind of activities you set, the tone of your voice and your body language
- Strike a balance between picking up on every minor misdemeanour, and actually getting on with the lesson
- Aim to have a sense of what's going on with the whole class at any point in the lesson. Look for an overall impression, rather than focusing too much on individuals
- Avoid using your voice to gain the attention of a lively class. Agree a non verbal signal with the children instead
More about this issue
- Watch an example of this issue being resolved
- Further related programmes:
- Visit the Behaviour Hub to find out more on related issues
