Making Better Choices: Our Approach to Positive Behaviour Management

At our school, we’re dedicated to fostering a safe, supportive, and positive environment where every student feels empowered to make choices that lead to success, one moment at a time. Central to this commitment is our “Making Better Choices” approach to behaviour management, which recognises the subtle, often complex nature of defining successful behaviour. For us, success isn’t a static outcome; it’s the ability to make small, mindful choices in each moment that help students navigate their experiences positively and purposefully.

Why this approach?

In choosing this strategy, we aim to help our students build an understanding that success is achieved through the series of choices they make throughout the day. Rather than simply managing behaviour, we’re guiding students to understand how moment-by-moment decisions—whether about how they treat a peer, handle a challenge, or approach a task—contribute to a successful learning experience. By focusing on these incremental choices, our approach nurtures values like respect, responsibility, and empathy, instilling habits that will support students beyond the classroom.

How It Works: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Setting clear expectations in the moment: Our behaviour matrix, created in collaborating between teachers and students, is a cornerstone of this approach, outlining the behaviours we encourage in various settings. By referencing the matrix, teachers and staff create a framework where students see what success looks like in each unique context. Gentle, ongoing reminders help students internalize these expectations and apply them moment by moment, reinforcing the idea that every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive choice.

2. Providing choices and encouragement to reframe actions: When a student’s behaviour veers off track, our approach offers guidance to reset and make a constructive choice right then and there. By giving students options—whether it's moving to a different space, using a quiet tool, or choosing an alternative way to participate—we empower them to refocus on making successful choices in that specific moment. This way, they learn to regulate their actions in real-time, helping them understand the immediate impact of their decisions.

3. Reflective practice: If a challenging behaviour persists, students are asked to complete a reflection sheet, which encourages them to think critically about the choices they made and how they could reframe those choices for future success. This reflection is shared with parents, bridging home and school in supporting each child’s growth and helping them build habits for real-time success.

4. Natural and logical consequences as real world lessons: When a situation calls for it, natural consequences provide a meaningful learning experience. For example, if a student mishandles a classroom item, they may spend time restoring it, understanding how mindful behaviour could prevent similar issues in the future. Each consequence is an invitation to reflect and choose differently next time, reinforcing that every choice has an immediate, tangible impact on their learning environment.

5. Extra support for growth: In cases where behaviour remains challenging, students receive added support. Time with one of our Principals allows for another opportunity to reflect, regroup, and return to class more aligned with positive behaviours. By focusing on these small, successive choices, students learn that success is always within reach, even if it means making adjustments moment to moment.

Partnering with Families in Real-Time Growth

We see families as essential partners in this journey and appreciate your role in helping reinforce the value of mindful, moment-by-moment choices. When you receive a reflection sheet, we encourage you to talk with your child about the specific behaviours and choices that could support their success in future moments. By focusing on these incremental actions together, we can help students learn the power of each choice they make, empowering them to navigate their world with respect, responsibility, and a readiness to succeed in each moment.

Thank you for your partnership as we work together to guide our students in making better choices, one moment at a time.

Successful behaviour in context – an anecdote

One day during a busy morning, a Year 3 student named Sam came rushing into class, excited to share a story about his weekend with his friends. Normally, Sam’s enthusiasm and friendliness are qualities we value, but in this moment, his loud voice and energetic movements were distracting other students who were already quietly reading.

Recognising the opportunity to help Sam make a better choice, his teacher approached him with a reminder from the behaviour matrix. She gently explained, "Sam, sharing your story is great, but in this moment, the best way to be successful is to join our quiet reading time so that everyone can stay focused." Sam quickly understood and took a seat, settling into the peaceful reading atmosphere. In this moment, success meant showing respect for the quiet environment that others needed.

Later that day, during recess, Sam’s enthusiasm was in full swing again—this time it was exactly what was needed. Sam organised a group of friends for a game of soccer, showing leadership by rallying his classmates and encouraging everyone to play with high energy. Here, his enthusiasm and loud voice weren’t just appropriate; they were essential for keeping the game fun, fair, and exciting for everyone.

Reflecting on the day, Sam’s teacher took the opportunity to help him see the difference between the two moments. She explained that behaviours like enthusiasm and energy can be successful or unsuccessful depending on the context. "Sam," she said, "you showed us today that success looks different depending on where we are and what we’re doing. At reading time, success looked like being calm and respectful. At recess, success looked like leading your team with energy."

This experience illustrated the subtle complexity we emphasise in our approach to behaviour management. It showed Sam that success isn’t a fixed set of actions, but rather the ability to read the moment and choose the behaviours that support everyone’s needs, including his own.