The greatest challenge of any behaviour curriculum is getting the children to apply their learning. We can teach the content but unless the knowledge is revisited the learning will not stick. There are many ways to foster the application of these skills to help improve behaviour: displays in classrooms, previous lesson recaps, whole-school assemblies and referencing the concepts in coaching conversations.
However, we have found the Let’s Talk Application Cards to be the most effective way of building this behaviour into a school culture.
These cards were originally created to replace the generic Stop and Think reminders that were given to children as a sanction. A few years ago, I remember handing out a Stop and Think card only for the child to ask, with a hint of sarcasm, “What should I think about, Sir?”
It was this question that made me realise that yes, asking children to stop is a good first step, but providing some prompts for thinking might make a difference. This was the moment that the Let’s Talk Application Cards were born and they have been game-changers for schools, teachers and children ever since.
Here are some examples:
This card helps children recognise that they have been triggered by something. It encourages them to take steps out of the Tornado Zone so that they can regulate.
The antidote to the child who has mastered the art of low-level disruption. It stresses the team element of a class and that calling out, fiddling with pencils are all compromising the team.
Failure triggers all kinds of disturbing emotions in a classroom but this card reminds children that failure should not be hidden from and is one of the most important steps to success
1. Learning Arena
Do you have any children in your class who have the answers but do not have the confidence to contribute to class discussion? Well the Learning Arena card is for them. It encourages active learning by highlighting the thought gremlins that stop us getting involved.
Talk partners encourage participation… so long as the children are actually talking. However unsure a child might be, these cards give children a script that they can use to ask and answer questions.
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