Mind the Gap

One of the most important things to remember in promoting positive behaviour in the classroom is for teachers to mind the gap between them and their pupils. When I get on the train with my bike I need to carefully think about stepping onto the train without tripping or dropping the bike into the gap between train and platform. A moment of conscious thought helps me keep safe and out of harm's way.

The same should be said for thinking through and carefully navigating the distance between the teacher and the pupils they are working with. Closing the distance is one of the most important factors in managing classroom behaviour. There is an element of danger if you forget what happens when distance develops.

Minding the gap is a rule to remember every time you need to talk to a pupil about their behaviour and tell them what they need to do to improve - the first step is to come up close and speak quietly to the individual pupil. Alternatively, see the pupil in private, so their privacy and dignity is protected. Shouting across the room or reprimanding a pupil in front of their peers never works, as teenagers hate to lose face. A pupil will not apologise in front of their friends and a public confrontation creates a theatre for the pupil to show off and act as if they don't care. Situations can escalate and will not be de-escalated if they become a drama or a battle in front of an audience. Sometimes you need to take the pupil outside, but a quiet word in their ear can be effective and allow the teacher to keep monitoring the rest of the class. What you do not wish to do is distract from the lesson, or make your prompting obvious to others.

Minding the gap is not only a technique, as teachers also need to mind the gap between their expectations and what young pupils understand. Teachers need to teach and model positive behaviour as much as they teach their subject - you can never forget that pupils will not know how to behave if you have not explicitly told them what your expectations are. Distance should be avoided - so mind the gap!