Teacher's Manual

Good morning #edutwitter,

With pleasure, I’d like to announce the publication of my 4th book, Building Relationships in Schools.

Relationship building is often described as being key to a teacher’s success in and outside the classroom…. (1/2)

The same guidance (circled) was given 20yrs ago.

“Engaging” became synonymous with “fun.”

That wasn’t always possible so we ended up doing junk activities- i.e. very low impact but ‘fun’/waste of time, lest SLT blame our ‘boring’ lessons for poor behaviour.

Again?

Relationships are helpful in all aspects.

When positive, they increase teacher job satisfaction, sense of purpose, and make the job more fun!

But it is *not* ‘all about relationships.’

No relationship can exist without discipline- not the opposite.

If detentions aren’t centralised, teachers are only 3/4 difficult classes away from leaving teaching.

3-5 pupils disrupting each one, then continuing the disruption during the detention (teachers time) and we wonder why so many ECTs are in tears every week.

Unacceptable.

If a teacher has to jump through hoops to set a detention (phone home, lose their own break, restorative conversation, etc) they will stop setting them.

SLT assume behaviour is fine but really it’s just being ‘contained.’

The school soon declines.

Centralise everything.