{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":87.42999999999999,"endTime":94.78999999999999,"body":"Ever taught a talkative class? I'm talking about classes here that talk to the extent that there's too much noise, and you"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":94.78999999999999,"endTime":101.845,"body":"see lots of off task behaviour and learning time that's, well, just going down the drain. I feel your pain."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":102.145,"endTime":109.764,"body":"And that's why in this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we're going to be looking at strategies for managing those classes successfully."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":110.705,"endTime":115.33999999999999,"body":"Welcome to the School Behaviour Secrets podcast. I'm your host, Simon Currigan."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":115.47999999999999,"endTime":122.13999999999999,"body":"My co host is Emma Shackleton, and we're obsessed with helping teachers, school leaders, parents, and, of course, students"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":122.19999999999999,"endTime":125.02,"body":"when classroom behaviour gets in the way of success."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":125.24,"endTime":131.374,"body":"We're gonna share the tried and tested secrets to classroom management, behavioural special needs, whole school strategy, and"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":131.374,"endTime":135.475,"body":"more, all with the aim of helping your students reach their true potential."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":135.695,"endTime":141.475,"body":"Plus, we'll be letting you eavesdrop on our conversations with thought leaders from around the world."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":141.615,"endTime":146.2,"body":"So you'll get to hear the latest evidence based strategies before anyone else."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":146.26,"endTime":150.57999999999998,"body":"This is the School Behaviour Secrets podcast. Hi there."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":150.57999999999998,"endTime":156.33999999999997,"body":"Simon Currigan here from Beacon School Support, and welcome to this essentials episode of School Behaviour Secrets."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":156.33999999999997,"endTime":164.315,"body":"In these shorter episodes, we revisit a key strategy or insight from an earlier show giving you practical ideas that you can"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":164.315,"endTime":168.555,"body":"apply straight away in your classroom and with the students that you work with."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":168.555,"endTime":173.995,"body":"Because sometimes, we all need a reminder of those core techniques that make a real difference."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":173.995,"endTime":178.11,"body":"I really do believe that we need reminding as much as we need training."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":178.17,"endTime":184.19,"body":"If you find today's content helpful, make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":185.05,"endTime":193.305,"body":"So today, we are taking a look back at original episode number 80 where Emma and I discussed techniques for managing chatty"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":193.365,"endTime":201.365,"body":"classes where students are engaged in lots of off task chatter or their talk is getting in the way of getting the work done."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":201.365,"endTime":210.45999999999998,"body":"So this isn't about silencing and stifling kids, but using techniques that successfully harness their energies and make sure"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":210.45999999999998,"endTime":216.48,"body":"their talk is purposeful and related to their learning. So let's jump into those strategies."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":218.475,"endTime":227.695,"body":"One thing that a few teachers that I know have tried is using that noiseometer and then actually employing probably the noisiest"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":227.835,"endTime":231.535,"body":"member of the class to be the monitor for the class."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":231.98,"endTime":241.9,"body":"Because if they are allowed to come out and move the dial to wherever it needs to be, that really helps to cement for them what the expectations are as well."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":241.9,"endTime":243.41899999999998,"body":"So that's quite a nice little tip."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":243.41899999999998,"endTime":245.855,"body":"They can be the monitor of the noiseometer."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":245.915,"endTime":252.975,"body":"So what we're looking for is clarity around the noise levels, making sure the children understand the expectations explicitly."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":253.515,"endTime":262.179,"body":"And then as soon as they are doing it right, as soon as they are getting it, lots of recognition. Don't wait. They need short feedback loops."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":262.179,"endTime":269.05899999999997,"body":"So as soon as they're getting it right, make sure you recognise and acknowledge that. Using proximity praise is helpful too."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":269.05899999999997,"endTime":277.575,"body":"So if you've got the majority of a table of children working at the right level and maybe one who's getting a bit too noisy, you've got a choice there."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":277.71500000000003,"endTime":284.03499999999997,"body":"You can either turn and focus your attention on the one who's being too noisy and draw attention to somebody who's getting"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":284.03499999999997,"endTime":292.27,"body":"it wrong, or you can choose to draw attention to somebody nearby who's getting it right, thereby saving everybody the humiliation"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":292.49,"endTime":297.78999999999996,"body":"of maybe an unnecessary telling off and highlighting the behaviour that you do want."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":298.115,"endTime":304.294,"body":"So often just turn into the person next door and saying, 'Billy, I like the way that you're working at number 2 there."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":304.354,"endTime":310.03999999999996,"body":"I can hear that just the person sitting next to you can hear your voice. You're nailing it. That's exactly right.'"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":310.12,"endTime":316.76,"body":"And then maybe the person next to Billy who was talking a little bit too loudly has had that little reminder and understands"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":316.76,"endTime":318.94,"body":"that they need to adapt a little bit too."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":319.0,"endTime":321.96000000000004,"body":"Don't expect an immediate payoff for this, by the way."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":321.96000000000004,"endTime":328.605,"body":"Some people stick a noiseometer up on the wall, talk the class through it once, and then they fiddle with the dial and they"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":328.605,"endTime":330.605,"body":"expect that the children will just get it."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":330.605,"endTime":334.625,"body":"And they get frustrated or disappointed when it doesn't work."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":335.08500000000004,"endTime":339.55899999999997,"body":"Like many, many things with behaviour and classroom management, it's training."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":339.69899999999996,"endTime":347.38,"body":"You're going to have to keep on reinforcing this behaviour over time to get more of what you want. But you will get there. You will do it."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":347.38,"endTime":352.17999999999995,"body":"Absolutely. Tip 4, and this is for younger children, use settling games. Right?"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":352.17999999999995,"endTime":356.025,"body":"So when you're teaching younger children, I'm thinking about primary aged kids here."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":356.245,"endTime":362.725,"body":"When they come in from, say, playtime or when they first come in during the morning or when they come back from lunch, they"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":362.725,"endTime":368.08000000000004,"body":"might not be in a physical state where they are ready to learn."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":368.14,"endTime":380.22,"body":"So if they're overexcited, if they're stressed, if they're anxious, they're gonna find it harder to sit still, to pay attention, and absorb information from the adult."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":380.22,"endTime":382.0,"body":"And we know this is true from neuroscience."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":382.66499999999996,"endTime":390.025,"body":"If your brain isn't calm, if you aren't biologically in a state to listen and pay attention and learn, then you won't do it."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":390.025,"endTime":398.85,"body":"And it can feel like as a teacher, sometimes you're trying to almost push the learning forward, and you can feel the kids, they aren't ready. And it's a mistake."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":398.85,"endTime":407.42999999999995,"body":"If they're not physically ready to learn, then just to plow on with your lesson is a recipe for failure. You can't fight the children's biology."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":407.81499999999994,"endTime":416.55499999999995,"body":"So when they come in, if you recognise that they aren't physically ready for learning, instead of just plowing on, it's a great idea to use calming games."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":416.855,"endTime":428.35,"body":"One that I particularly like that I've used from reception up to year 6, the whole length of the primary school is heads down, thumbs up. It's a very simple settling game."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":428.35,"endTime":432.68999999999994,"body":"You can play it in a couple of minutes. The rules are very, very simple."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":432.82899999999995,"endTime":437.04499999999996,"body":"All you do is you get everyone sat down in a chair and you pick 3 children."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":437.105,"endTime":443.525,"body":"Then you tell the rest of the children who are sitting at the tables to close their eyes, to put their head on their desks,"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":443.82500000000005,"endTime":446.30499999999995,"body":"and to hold a thumb in the air."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":446.30499999999995,"endTime":454.13,"body":"Then the 3 children that you originally picked, their job is to quietly walk around the classroom, and each child gets to"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":454.13,"endTime":460.30999999999995,"body":"pick 1 of the children with their eyes closed by just pulling their thumb down into their fist gently."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":460.53,"endTime":466.495,"body":"And we say to the children that have their heads down and their thumbs up, we say, your job is to listen to the footsteps."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":467.355,"endTime":474.475,"body":"Listen as the children walk around the room because if you're picked, you want to try and follow with your ears and your eyes"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":474.475,"endTime":478.07000000000005,"body":"closed the sound of their footsteps back to the front of the room."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":478.15,"endTime":484.65,"body":"When the 3 children who are choosing have finished, they go to the front of the room, and we tell everyone to open their eyes and look in this direction."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":484.87,"endTime":490.895,"body":"And we say, if you were chosen, if someone put your thumb down, stand up, and you'll end up with 3 children standing up."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":490.975,"endTime":494.095,"body":"And we go to the 1st child, and we say, who do you think chose you?"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":494.095,"endTime":501.21500000000003,"body":"If they choose correctly, the child who was originally sitting down switches places with the person who chose them."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":501.21500000000003,"endTime":505.80999999999995,"body":"So next time they get a chance to choose, and if they get it wrong, then the chooser carries on."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":505.80999999999995,"endTime":509.25,"body":"We work through all 3 children asking who they think picked them."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":509.25,"endTime":514.77,"body":"At the end of it, we'll have 3 new choosers or it might be a mixture of old choosers and new choosers, and everyone puts their"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":514.77,"endTime":516.37,"body":"head down and thumbs up for another round."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":516.37,"endTime":523.924,"body":"And we set the choosers quietly creeping around the class, pulling down one thumb each, and the game continues like that."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":523.984,"endTime":529.125,"body":"That game, if you play it for 2 or 3 rounds, lasts 3 or 4 minutes absolutely maximum."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":529.505,"endTime":535.85,"body":"But what we're doing is we're getting the kids quiet, we're getting them calm, and we're getting them listening."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":535.91,"endTime":544.405,"body":"And that 3 or 4 minutes invested in a settling game will pay back dividends for the rest of the lesson because teaching and"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":544.405,"endTime":546.345,"body":"learning is now going to be easier."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":546.485,"endTime":554.265,"body":"It's going to be more productive because the kids are biologically ready to accept the teaching material that you're presenting."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":554.405,"endTime":562.78,"body":"Rather than fighting against kids who are overexcited or nervous and stressed, what we've done is we've paid attention to their biological state."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":562.78,"endTime":570.799,"body":"We've got them calm and ready, and now we can settle back and enjoy the lesson both from the teacher's perspective and the child's perspective."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":571.555,"endTime":578.995,"body":"I really like the premise there of helping the children to feel regulated and be ready to learn."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":578.995,"endTime":586.7,"body":"Because you're right, it's a absolute losing battle trying to shoehorn in learning if the children are not emotionally regulated"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":586.84,"endTime":589.32,"body":"and they're not in a learning brain state."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":589.32,"endTime":593.88,"body":"Another really great way to do this is to use calming music to set the tone."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":593.88,"endTime":602.255,"body":"I've seen lots of great teachers doing this, playing something gentle, something quietly as children enter the classroom."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":602.255,"endTime":610.195,"body":"And there's evidence to show that our heart rates actually slow down when we listen to slow moving music."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":610.575,"endTime":616.5600000000001,"body":"So that creates that calm and physical readiness for us to be able to pay attention and listen."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":616.78,"endTime":618.8000000000001,"body":"And, again, it's all in the training."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":618.86,"endTime":626.7,"body":"So it's not going to work just putting on some music really quietly and the class just running in and barreling in and fighting"},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":626.7,"endTime":629.0400000000001,"body":"for their seats if that's what they've always done."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":629.234,"endTime":633.095,"body":"So you'll teach them, you'll train them, you'll show them the expectation."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":634.035,"endTime":642.135,"body":"Physically, stop them at the door, greet the class at the door, and physically manage the way that children enter the room."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":642.28,"endTime":645.34,"body":"Perhaps you'll let 2 or 3 children walk in 1st."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":645.72,"endTime":654.76,"body":"They'll walk in, see if they can hear the music that's playing as they calmly go to their chairs and sit down, then you'll perhaps let the next 3 in."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":654.76,"endTime":662.695,"body":"You know, it's really, really controlled, and these are small basic classroom management techniques that we are talking about."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":663.235,"endTime":669.735,"body":"But the effect is huge on the quality and the amount of learning that can happen."},{"speaker":"Emma Shackleton","startTime":670.049,"endTime":677.35,"body":"If you can get everybody regulated and ready to learn, then, logically, a lot more learning is going to happen."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":679.57,"endTime":685.905,"body":"And that's where we'll have to wrap things up for today, but there's so much more that we haven't had time to cover."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":685.905,"endTime":693.505,"body":"So if you want to know more about harnessing rather than squashing the energy of a chatty class that you're working with so"},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":693.505,"endTime":704.12,"body":"that their talk is not a barrier to a success, but a function of their success, then be sure to listen to the full episode. That's podcast episode number 80."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":704.26,"endTime":708.34,"body":"I'll put a link in the episode description so you can easily access it."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":708.34,"endTime":712.74,"body":"If you've enjoyed today's episode, we'd appreciate it if you could rate and review us."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":712.74,"endTime":718.405,"body":"Think of it as your chance to hand out an Oscar to your favorite education podcast, I mean us."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":718.465,"endTime":721.504,"body":"We'd really appreciate it if you do."},{"speaker":"Simon Currigan","startTime":721.504,"endTime":725.285,"body":"Thanks for tuning in, and we'll see you next time on School Behaviour Secrets."}]}