CMS Training

Situation

During my first semester of teaching, I was finding managing behaviour in my classroom quite challenging. Luckily, the school was in the process of ensuring that all staff were trained in the CMS program to ensure consistent approaches to behaviour management and engagement were applied across the school.

I was offered a place in the training program which consisted of 3 sets of 2-day training courses interspersed with an opportunity to be observed by an experienced practitioner who would provide feedback on how particular strategies were being implemented.

Action

The CMS course re-iterated for me what I had already learned at university and then gave me the opportunity to put it into practice and receive feedback on what I was doing well with regards to the strategies. The course and conferencing opportunities made me conscious of the low-key responses that I use regularly in my classroom such as:

The look
Use of student name
Gesture
Proximity
Pause
Planned ignore
Deal with the problem, not the student

It also gave me an opportunity to reflect on and practice the bump theory for when low-key responses were not working effectively.

Outcome

As a result of undertaking the CMS Training and associated conferencing, I am much more confident in creating a safe environment for my students. The low-key responses are second nature to me now and I feel that my class is running more effectively.

1 Know students and how they learn, 1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students, 3 Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning, 3.3 Use teaching strategies, 3.5 Use effective classroom communication, 3.6 Evaluate and improve teaching programs, 4 Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments, 4.1 Support student participation, 4.2 Manage classroom activities, 4.3 Manage challenging behaviour, 4.4 Maintain student safety, 6 Engage in professional learning, 6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice, 6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice, 6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning, 7 Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community, 7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities, 7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements

Courtney Weaver

CMS Training

Situation

Action

Standards