Transcript Behaviour Scenarios A specially commissioned set of resources for tutors, school mentors and trainee teachers Scenario 12: Dealing with unacceptable language.

Behaviour Scenarios
A specially commissioned set of resources for tutors, school
mentors and trainee teachers
Scenario 12: Dealing with unacceptable language
Scenario 12
Dealing with unacceptable language
As you are passing a pupil who is working, the
pupil swears under his/her breath.
Others start to laugh.
How do you respond?
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Key Learning outcomes
•
Consideration of the use of appropriate
language by both pupils and staff.
•
Modelling and practising some techniques to
deal with individual misbehaviour whilst
keeping a focus on learning and maintaining
the impetus of the lesson.
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What do you do?
1. Ignore the pupil.
2. Say loudly ‘I will not have language like that in
my class.’ Apply a sanction acceptable in the
school e.g. send the pupil out of the room.
3. Whisper to the pupil ‘Please don’t use language
like that even when you whisper.’ Then ask the
pupil a question about the work.
4. Tell the pupil you will speak together after the
lesson. When you do so, explain that such
language is unacceptable and ask the pupil to
promise not to use it again.
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What may be the best choice?
3. Whisper to the pupil ‘Please don’t use language like that
even when you whisper.’ Then ask the pupil a question
about the work.
Whispering to the pupil keeps the exchange private, excludes the
others who are laughing, and doesn’t escalate the situation. It is
also a slightly unexpected response which will gain the pupil’s
attention.
Asking a question re-focuses the pupil on the work and the
purpose of the lesson.
The response is brief. It keeps the momentum of the lesson going
and does not distract pupils from their learning.
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How might you prevent a recurrence ?
1. At the end of the lesson, quietly ask the pupil to
have a word with you. Ask why he/she was
swearing. Ask the pupil not to do it again.
2. If you think it advisable in the circumstances,
include those pupils who were laughing in this
conversation too.
3. When suitable occasions arise, discuss the use of
language with the class and the reasons that
swearing is unacceptable.
4. Always model the use of correct language yourself.
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Underlying principles
• Pupils need to learn what language is acceptable
and what might give offence to others. For some
this means a radical change in their previously
learned habits.
• When dealing with an incident involving one pupil,
it is often counterproductive to draw the attention
of others to it.
• It is important to recognise and respond to
unacceptable behaviour. However, it is also
important, for the sake of all the pupils, to keep a
constant focus on their learning.
• Tactical ignoring is a technique that should be used
sparingly but it does have it’s place where there is
no danger of the behaviour escalating so that
learning is disrupted.
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Rights and responsibilities
• Teachers have a responsibility to uphold the school
rules.
• They, and their pupils, have the right to be treated
with dignity and respect.
• They are in a position to help pupils to understand
what behaviour is generally accepted by society
and what is not. Pupils who do not learn this cause
difficulties for themselves as well as for others and
may always feel alienated and disadvantaged.
• Pupils need to understand that some rules are not
confined to school - that swearing is not just
something that strangely upsets some teachers
but that, for very good reasons, it may give
offence to many people.
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Activities to try
Working with your school mentor or other experienced
practitioner who agrees to observe your teaching with a
focus on:
1.how you deal with individual unacceptable behaviour without
disturbing the rest of the class or disrupting the flow of the
lesson
2.how appropriate your own use of language is
3.how successful you are at avoiding distractions and keeping
the lesson flowing at an appropriate pace.
Arrange to discuss the outcomes:
What went well?………. Even better if…………
4. Can you agree what is acceptable and unacceptable
language in school? Can you agree if it is acceptable for
members of staff to swear in the staffroom or tutors/trainees
to swear in a seminar?
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Want to find out more?
References on the B4L site
• Improving Behaviour for Learning (Secondary Schools) –
Ending the lesson (has a useful commentary on three different
responses to swearing in a lesson)
• Teachers TV - Primary NQTs - Managing Behaviour
• Glossary item - SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of
Learning)
• B4L item - Learning outcomes for ITT trainees to support SEAL
in school
• B4L item - Tourette Syndrome UK Association
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Conclusions
• What is the key message have you gained
from this scenario material?
• How might you apply this approach in your
own practice in school.
• Further insights and notes for tutors and
mentors are available on the website
Updated August 2009