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A useful reminder that, when it comes to students' behavioural issues, it's not all about the teacher
Practical Behaviour Management for Primary School Teachers
By Tracey Lawrence
Bloomsbury Education
178pp, £17, paperback
ISBN: 9781472942357
Behaviourally speaking, I don't have the easiest class this year, so when I was approached by Tes to review a book entitled Practical Behaviour Management for Primary School Teachers, the answer was an immediate "Yes".
I should state that I've always been sceptical of books that tell teachers how to manage children. Behaviour-management skills aren't acquired from the pages of a book, but out in the classroom at the sharp end of reality. As such, it was a pleasant surprise to find this book both engaging and useful.
The author, Tracey Lawrence, an assistant headteacher and social, emotional and mental health specialist in a mainstream primary, comes from the standpoint that all behaviour is essentially communication. She doesn't pretend to be able to solve all your problems instantly. Instead, she painstakingly takes you through a spectrum of the behaviours you are likely to encounter in the classroom. These are then met with practical tips on how to tackle them.
The book is written in a friendly, conversational style that addresses the reader teacher-to-teacher. It explains a variety of strategies in a...