Plevin - Take control of the noisy class : from chaos to calm in 15 seconds

In a clear, reassuring, no-nonsense tone, Rob Plevin shows how our attitudes and expectations as teachers translate into a simple set of routines that can make all the difference. His guidance is easy to implement, unpatronising and hugely optimistic because once behaviour expectations are clearly bedded-in, we can get to the heart of our role teaching our students. Take Control of the Noisy Class helps us to do just what the title promises. I strongly recommend it.

Geoff Barton, head teacher, King Edward VI School

Rob has written the kind of book that every teacher regardless of experience will learn something from. Underpinned with lively stories, anecdotes, illustrations and pertinent theory, this book will make any teacher who has ever struggled with an unruly class or troublesome student feel that they now have the understanding and tools to solve their own classroom problems. Highly recommend.

Isabella Wallace, teacher, author and education consultant

Plevins text is written in the inimitable style loved by his website fans. His sage advice and how-to-do-it strategies are passed onto readers with the good natured, quirky, self-deprecating humour for which he is known. He writes to us in language reminiscent of a vivid collegial conversation in the teachers lunchroom. Its very much like having a friendly, funny conversation with a deeply thoughtful master teacher.

Dr Tom McIntyre, BehaviorAdvisor.com,
professor, Hunter College, City University of New York

I had expected to skim this book but was completely unable to do so. The writing style is incredibly engaging. The stories Rob tells pull you in: not only to understand his thought process, but to create effective analogies so that the reader can completely understand his points.

While I read this book, I wanted to shout from the rooftop, Yes, yes, yes! If every classroom teacher used these strategies and techniques in their classroom, they would definitely be able to take control of a noisy class.

Susan Fitzell, author, education consultant and professional speaker

Imagine having quick and easy-to-use strategies to calm your class in just 15 seconds! How I wish Id had these strategies when I first began to teach. One that I especially love builds on leadership roles with the students who are typically the loudest and trains them in how to immediately quieten the class. As with every strategy in this crucially important book, its brilliant, practical and works right away. Rob, youve done a remarkable service for teachers and students alike. The quiet in the classroom transforms student behaviour as well as the learning process. Thank you!

Pat Wyman, MA, author of Amazing Grades and founder, HowToLearn.com

Rob Plevins new book combines my two favourite elements of a teaching resource: useable, practical ideas presented in an easy-to-read style. These down-to-earth, sensible strategies will be immediately useful to educators working with students of any age. Buy it, read it, and start stealing ideas today!

Dr Rich Allen, greenlighteducation.net

I would like to dedicate this book to my parents for their love and support and for the fact that no matter how I have behaved throughout my life, they never stopped believing in me.

And also to my wonderful partner, Sally, and my amazing children, Joe, Andrew and Poppy. Thanks gang I am filled with gratitude for the joy, laughter and learning you bring to my life each day.

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to my good friend Adam Page for his help with this book, and indeed all my materials. He has put up with my last minute, unrealistic deadlines for years.

Thanks to Bob, my first mentor, Boss Woman Susan, Gail and Shay some of the best strategies in this book came from them during the roller-coaster time we spent together in Gateshead. Thanks also to all the kids Ive worked with over the years most of the remaining strategies came about through trying to avoid the stress they were causing me!

Finally, huge thanks to Caroline, Louise, Emma and the team at Crown House. You people are amazing to work with!

Contents

Introduction

Once upon a time, a fresh-faced, idealistic young teacher emerged blinking from teacher training camp. Armed only with a dream of putting the education world to rights, brand new elbow patches and a burning ambition to be the most popular teacher in school, he tackled the world head on. He challenged the establishment and won. He changed the face of education forever. The kids loved him, his results were outstanding and Benedict Cumberbatch won an Oscar for playing him in the film. And then I woke up.

I have to admit I found the real teaching world a bit of a shock and came down to earth with a bump. Dealing with teenagers who didnt want to be in school wasnt easy and I soon realised how ill-equipped I was in terms of practical classroom management strategies. Ill be honest and tell you I really struggled with some students and I was pathetic at keeping the more challenging groups under control.

To be fair, it was the same story for most other members of staff. This was a tough school, but even so, there were still one or two exceptions who seemed to have the respect and adulation of even the hardest students. These were the teachers the kids adored. When they walked down a corridor the students would make a beeline for them to say hello and have a chat, the mood in their classroom was almost always upbeat and as soon as they began to teach a respectful hush would immediately descend. That is the kind of teacher I want to be! I thought. Now to find out how they do it

I found that the simplest way was to ask them the students, that is, not the teachers. I wanted to hear them tell me what it was they wanted to see in a teacher. So, over the years and in several different settings, I compiled questionnaires for my classes, of all ages between 7 and 18, designed to root out the answer to that one big question: what makes the best teacher youve ever met?

I used the questionnaires to probe deeper than that, of course. I wanted to know what these teachers said, what they did, what teaching methods they used, what strategies they employed to help kids when they were down, how they used humour in the classroom, how they encouraged the students to work harder, how they got them to follow instructions, what they did that made them smile.

Call me obsessive (Ive had worse) but there was a hidden agenda. I had watched these individuals in action for some time before it hit me: these teachers were enjoying their careers far more than their peers. The teaching day wasnt a grind to them. It wasnt the gruelling endurance test that some teachers would have me believe. Here were teachers who enjoyed coming to school to teach students who enjoyed being taught.

I wanted to be one of these teachers, not the jaded moaner grumbling into his coffee in the corner of the staffroom every breaktime. And that is why I spent so much time questioning my students. The results wont surprise you, as they didnt surprise me. All the expected criteria were there. The following list (in no particular order) represents the features that the students said they most wanted to see in their best teacher.

They treat us in a friendly manner.

They acknowledge when we do something right.