It's time to rethink our behaviour management strategies

Sarah Duggan

By Sarah Duggan
Published August 22, 2019

In teaching circles, it’s known as the witching hour. And on this particular Friday afternoon at 2pm, preservice teacher Kellie Ambrose* found herself floundering in a sea of classroom hot water.

Experts question where the evidence is to suggest that group punishments, detentions, and escalating warnings actually deter bad behaviour and inspire a love of learning.

Some students were swearing at instructions, others, locked in a feverish frenzy, were shredding her carefully-planned poster activity into shards ...

Primary Support

Veritas Wakefield

Teaching - Primary / Apr 28, 2026

Nursery Practitioner

Veritas North West London

Teaching - Early childhood / Apr 28, 2026

Occupational Therapist - Central Queensland Region

Department of Education and Training (Queensland)

Are you keen to work within a collaborative team environment to achieve occupational success for children at school? Are you looking for an opportunity to advance...

Teaching - Secondary / Apr 28, 2026

School news / ‘We haven’t been inclusive enough (on gender equality) it’s about a better future for all’: ex-PM

A concerted, organised and strategic pushback by the “manosphere” against gender equality can’t be swept under the rug, Australia’s only female prime minister says.

Opinion / Australia has access to 20,000 migrant teachers, but is not using them. Why not?

School news / A balanced approach to social media might not be so bad: new research

The effectiveness of banned social media sites for Australian under 16s remains hotly debated, but while most agree protecting young people from too much screen time is a priority, a major new study has revealed that a balanced approach to social ...

School news / Indigenous-led cultural learning in schools is vital - but no govt is listening

Schools far too often rely on symbolic gestures rather than meaningful action to support Aboriginal students, and there is an urgent need for governments to properly resource Indigenous-led cultural learning, a five-year WA research project has co...

School news / NZ education sector continues to lash Govt’s curriculum reform intentions

New Zealand’s education sector is demanding that the National Government pause the rollout of what stakeholders call its “rushed” curriculum reforms as opposition to the direction, scope, and pace of change continues to swell.

School news / New research suggests kids’ pretend play ability linked to better mental health

Children who demonstrate pretend play ability as toddlers have significantly fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties at primary school, a new study has suggested.

Leadership / Exceptional principals seek out ‘quiet achievers’ for leadership roles, study finds

The exact practices that exceptional principals use to identify and develop middle leaders in their schools have been revealed in a new study – and there’s good news for introverted teachers and quiet achievers.

School news / Consumption gumption: schools’ new push to get kids eating more vegetables

Nutritional intake by children in Australia is well short of where it needs to be, with 96 per cent failing to eat enough vegetables and more than 40 per cent of their daily energy intake often coming from unhealthy “discretionary” foods, but a ma...

Community / WHAT MATTERS to young Australians in 2026? A national What Matters? Writing Competition helps young students to find their voice!

In classrooms across the country, the most powerful moments often begin quietly. A question. A pause. A student finding the words to say something that matters to them.

School news / Sweet Swahili: award-winner promoting community harmony and social cohesion

You might not know it, but you can speak a tiny bit of Swahili. Who doesn’t know the words ‘Hakuna Matata’, from Disney’s 1994 animated feature film The Lion King?

Comments