Conscious behavior management

This may have led to new patterns of behavior that you didn't encounter prior to the lockdown, or an increase in behavior issues that existed but were manageable. Or maybe they just find it hard to sit still for an extended period of time that they haven't been used to for several months. These reactions to extreme changes in routine, as well as continuous changes in life as we know it, can undoubtedly lead to stress and anxiety in the child that manifests itself in bad behavior. But how can educators respond to them? Is it possible that conscious behavior management is the key to a positive learning environment?

Stop and breathe

Any adult who looked for methods of dealing with their own anxiety or stress would have discovered breathing techniques to calm the mind and regain its composure. What if we incorporated this practice into our teaching? Mindful breathing exercises at the start (and end) of a lesson could help students refocus. After a hectic morning at home or a painful drama during the break, a few minutes of deep breathing might be all they need to let go of anything that might be impacting their behavior for about an hour.

Share a personal story

Building a connection with the students where they can even see you, the teacher they couldn't imagine having a life outside of this classroom, had a learning moment might be the motivation they need to think about. their own actions. Of course, confidentiality is crucial, but a story in which you illustrated a trait that you want them to express, such as listening and why it was important for you to listen, might attract them and dispel that reluctance to participate. at the lesson.

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Take a walking tactic

In an age when change is unconditional and necessary, young people who have experienced trauma, have ADHD or are autistic may find it extremely difficult to adjust. If a student is struggling with a situation and you are lucky enough to have an assistant in the room, perhaps ask if the student would like to take them for a walk. More often than not, removing themselves from the situation and taking a walk outside in the fresh air can give them time to anchor themselves before returning, or have the opportunity to express what is bothering them to someone without their eyes and eyes. ears of everyone in the room.

Create a calming environment

Young people are incredibly intuitive at times and can instantly capture your energy or that of the room. From experience, if I had had a particularly bad morning, my next class would know without even asking. Meditation techniques, soothing music, or visualization methods can help restore a sense of calm, both to you and your students. Perhaps the first five minutes could be spent visualizing what you are learning today. Regardless of the topic of your lesson - mountain ranges, electromagnetic waves, or abstract art - ask your students to close their eyes and visualize these topics. They would not only focus on the subject, but also create a peaceful learning environment.

Turn a behavior problem into a learning moment

As we age, we become more aware of ourselves. Self-awareness facilitates behavioral management: how we react and respond to certain situations and individuals. If we can teach self-awareness from an early age, they can learn to deal with their own behavior before we need to get involved. This means more time to teach and less time to focus on the discipline. When talking to a student about their behavior, ask them questions such as: Was this a thoughtful decision? Have you thought about your choices there? What could you have done differently in this situation? How would this situation have turned out if you had done this instead? These questions can foster a conscious response and rather than feeling frustrated with their behaviour, they can learn from them.

By implementing these strategies in our everyday life, we can cultivate positive change. Is it time for schools to start taking mindfulness seriously and start incorporating it into our teaching practices? With the world feeling under pressure throughout this pandemic, maybe it's time to take a step back and reassess how we teach our children to deal with their own behavior.

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