Hi all,
I hope your September is going well.
Do you have any successful strategies or phrases for managing behaviour in the library? This is an area of school librarianship I’ve struggled with for a few years. At my previous job at an independent girls’ school, behaviour management wasn’t really a problem as the students were generally well-behaved. Occasionally, I lost my temper, which seemed to work well. However, at my new school, a boys’ academy, I’ve found that blowing my top makes things worse. Staff members say assertiveness and maintaining both discipline and good relationships with the boys are crucial (and practically a full-time job!)
My empathic and kind nature definitely serves me well – as one of the sixth formers put it, I have ‘Miss Honey vibes.’ 🤣 However, I also want to assert my authority effectively, especially early on in the academic year.
Lucy x
Hi Lucy, behaviour management is always a tricky one and hopefully those currently working in schools might jump in with suggestions but for now here are my thoughts.
Certainly assertiveness is essential. Do not say one thing and do something else and never back down. Do you know the discipline rules of the school? Do they give out demerits or points towards detentions? Once you know this decide what you are going to do in your library. You do not have to be as strict as in a classroom but you do need to know your own limits.
I don't think Rules posters are a good thing but if you do go down that route, do positives rather than negatives. Rather than No Eating or Drinking you could say Food should be ate in the cafeteria...
Is there also a procedure for removing or banning students (not that this is what you want but it is good to know). Who can you contact if you need help to remove an unruly student? This is especially important if you are on your own at lunchtime and breaktime.
Anyway these are just a few thoughts to get you going and happy to hear what you are doing to make this easier.