Behaviour
What is behaviour?
Behaviour is the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others.
Interestingly, behaviour is specifically the actions or conduct, it does not describe the reasons for the actions / conduct.
In an education setting, it refers to the actions towards others but also the actions whilst learning.
What is discipline?
These days we know it as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punitive consequences to correct disobedience. However, the root word of discipline is disciple, which comes from the Latin word discipulus meaning student. The word disciplina translates to instruction / training and these words all stem from the root word discere which means to learn.
Therefore, discipline is about teaching a CYP to behaviour in a way that benefits themselves, their community and wider society.
BEHAVIOUR IS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION
A pupil with SEND may communicate through behaviour as verbalising thoughts, feelings or emotions is too difficult. Is it up to us as adults to 'translate' the behaviour and ensure the correct support is put in place.
WHEN BEHAVIOUR IS CHALLENGING:
Ensure that the child is not the sole responsibility of the teaching assistant; all adults in the room should model wanted behaviours and provide support for the child to change behaviours that challenge us
Be curious about the cause of the behaviour
Validate the emotion whilst correcting the behaviour i.e., ' It's OK to be angry; it's not OK to hit people'.
BE CURIOUS ABOUT CONTEXT
Use the roadmap of support to check that you have explored the context of the behaviour.