Being an Early Career Teacher (ECT) can be incredibly exciting. However, there are some challenges that you will face as an ECT.

One of these challenges is behaviour management in the classroom. This is just as important as learning, as poor behaviour can impact the learning of all students. But how can you manage this as an ECT teacher?

Examples of Poor Behaviour

Poor behaviour may be displayed in a number of ways. For example, you may notice that students are not attentive to you - they may fall asleep, play on an electronic device, or daydream. More noticeable displays of poor behaviour include students talking among themselves or interrupting during lessons.

On the most serious end, poor behaviour can result in threats and verbal or physical bullying of you as the teacher, or of other students.

Why Might Students Behave This Way?

Every student is unique, and the reasons for poor behaviour can vary widely. However, there are some common reasons such as boredom and having no motivation or self-discipline. Your student may want to get extra attention or have trouble understanding instructions, or they may have a personal issue that they cannot communicate with you.

You should also never underestimate the role of peer pressure, especially if a group of students are all behaving in a similar fashion.

The Effects Of Poor Behaviour

Children who behave poorly are likely to achieve less in the classroom, both in the short and long term. There can also be a hefty impact on both the other students and you as a teacher.

Other children may become distracted and upset if another child is behaving poorly. They may also be led into misbehaviour themselves, which can quickly lead to your classroom environment getting out of hand.

Dealing with this behaviour day in and day out can often lead to increased stress for you, and many teachers end up leaving their roles, or the profession entirely, due to not being able to manage this.

How To Manage Poor Behaviour

There are some things you can do to manage poor behaviour. Plan your lessons ahead of time, and consider your class. If you find out the unique personalities and learning styles of the students, you can tailor your lessons to try and engage each child.

As an ECT, you should also focus on building rapport and trust with your students, so they have respect for you. You should also be clear from the outset about what you expect from your class, and offer them a consistent routine.

Are you an Early Career Teacher looking for your first role? Coba Education is on hand to help you find a fantastic supply teaching role to fit your personality and teaching style. Get in touch to find out how we can support you as you begin your teaching journey.

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