Transforming Behaviour in the Classroom

Dr Geoffrey James PhD is an independent consultant with over 18 years of experience working with students as they go about changing their own sometimes challenging behaviour in schools. Geoff′s solution-focused approach to behaviour management developed during his time in a pupil referral unit working as a behaviour support teacher. He was looking for an approach to students’ behaviour that was more effective and somehow more human than the psychological behaviourism that dominated work. Geoff has taken the solution-focused approach into many situations to see how robust it is in the face of very different problems that confront people. He has supported individuals and teams with direct support and training in education, mental health, social work, management, alcohol and substance misuse and team building.

• IntroductionWhat do we mean by behaviour?Becoming the best teacher you can beDeveloping confidence in practiceMaking sense of behaviour problemsBeing solution focused in schoolTalking about pedagogyMotivation and changing behaviourChanging habits and changing thinkingThe practical work of changing behaviour

Geoffrey James’ book Transforming Behaviour in the Classroom provides a really sensible, evidenced based approach to getting the conditions for learning right. It’s the kind of book I wished I’d had on my PGCE and in my NQT year – practical strategies to prepare, plan and teach for good behaviour in your classroom, backed up by real examples.