Creating a Positive Learning Environment: The Savvy Teacher

Pre-service and graduate teachers need a book which is simple in construct, is memorable for practice, and which is easily accessible for when they face a challenging behaviour or situation in their teaching.

There is no single answer nor one right way to manage student behaviour or a class situation. Instead, there are a range of effective and skilful ways of enabling students to respond cooperatively, take responsibility and learn to manage their own behaviour.

This book is made up of two parts. Part A clearly outlines the practical strategies, skills and techniques that every graduate teacher needs to know, understand and be able to apply, in order to skilfully manage their students, their classes and collegial relationships within the school community. The ultimate goal for teachers is not only to learn to manage the behaviour they meet on a daily basis, but also to enable their students to learn to manage themselves, their own behaviour, relationships and their learning.

Part B presents common questions that graduate teachers ask throughout their first year of teaching. This section allows readers to dip in and read a suggested solution to a problem that they are facing, with cross references to Part A, which will expand on the theory, relevant strategies, skills, and techniques.

Jenny Mackay

Jenny Mackay is an author and internationally recognised specialist in behaviour management and student-teacher interactions. Following extensive research analysis into classroom dynamics she has originated a methodology that conveys comprehensive, practical student management skills and guides teachers in their classroom practice. She is based in Melbourne where she has also taught in the department of education at Deakin University.