My Rallying Cry “Ignore and Distract” is Now Validated!!!!

All you people who have been on my courses have often been surprised that whenever you have seemed tired, restless or overwhelmed with ideas, I have suddenly swung you into a fun game – seconds later, there is laughter and energy back in the room.  “Ignore and Distract” is the best behaviour management strategy. For years I have been training teachers and midday supervisors not to point out, shout at or even glare at the culprits engaged in low level disruptive behaviour – as these are often attention needy children. Praise the ones near them who are making the right choice – and then remember to look back soon after and spot the disruptor marking a good choice too.

The University of Exeter Medical School found that teachers who reward well behaved pupils with praise, instead of focussing attention on poorly behaved students – can improve the behaviour, concentration and mental health of school children and were more likely to see positive results than teachers who do not. Yay!!!

Professor Tamsin Ford, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said: “Our findings suggest that this training potentially improves all children’s mental health but it’s particularly exciting to see the larger benefit on the children who were initially struggling. These effects might be larger were this training offered to all teachers and teaching assistants. Let’s remember that training one teacher potentially benefits every child that they subsequently teach. Our study offers evidence that we should explore this training further as a whole school approach.”

Website Managers Notes

Here is a link to the article. and it can also be seen in some national newspapers.

For all training enquiries, phone 01225 767157, email circletime@jennymosley.co.uk or fill out our website training enquiry form on the website.

For low level disruptive behaviour, there are a number of strategies to use in Jenny’s Golden Model. Reading “They’re Driving Me Mad” is a great place to start to get more inspiration and less perspiration!.