All behaviour is learned behaviour - Students need to learn positive behaviours and skills that support their social and emotional wellbeing. They may also need support to 'unlearn' negative behaviours.

Explicitly teach and model positive behaviours - Students need to see and rehearse the skills and ways of thinking that help them to interact more positively with others, and support their own self-care, and engage with their learning.

Uphold unconditional positive regard for all students - Viewing students in a negative way can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Young people are learning about themselves, others, and their world. It is all so new, and can feel so big, important and sometimes overwhelming. They make mistakes, they might follow along with something they later regret, they may not have many positive role models to draw from as examples. Ultimately, they need support to reflect on, and think through who they want to be and how they want to represent themselves. They need specific and supportive feedback and practical strategies.

Shine a light on the good and what you want to see more of - Reinforcing positive behaviours, skills and attitudes helps students to identify and strive for them. Reinforcing a negative view, and naming the negative behaviours doesn't give students as much of a chance to think about the different ways they could be behaving or thinking.

Name and value students' strengths - The negative voice inside young people's heads can be a powerful force. Even the most combative students who may appear confident are often navigating some difficult negative self-talk. Identifying students strengths and positive behaviours, and explaining why they are valuable shows that you know the student and helps build rapport and positive connections. It also bolsters students perceptions of themselves.

Be a mentor, not a counsellor - It is not a teacher's role to provide counselling support to students, in fact, students who are experiencing personal challenges often value the way in which school can provide a space to escape these personal difficulties by just being a student, and having teachers who care about their learning and growth. Being a mentor for students by modelling your own wellbeing and self-care strategies can be a powerful thing. When opening a lesson, an informal chat about something you did positively for yourself can help give students an example of what they can do for themselves, and to help them recognise the strategies they can use themselves. Never get too personal or specific, just try to find ways of modelling a strategy that helps us bounce back from tricky moments.

Take a strengths based approach - and challenge perceptions that seeking help from the school's wellbeing team, or other wellbeing resources is not just for when you're experiencing a challenge, but simply to find ways of living a healthier life and thriving! Encourage students to seek out counselling that provides them with practical strategies to help them manage the things that might be negatively affecting their wellbeing.

We should develop positive and healthy connections with our students and create safe spaces for them -  

Many years ago, it was pointed out to me, that my smiling face may be the only smiling face a kid sees that day. Since then, I aim to proliferate a positive presence among students and take a restorative and empathetic approach to dealing with conflict or challenging behaviour. Schools should have a wellbeing team and process to support students with more complex wellbeing and behavioural needs. If you are experiencing challenges, make sure you seek out advice from those in your school who manage student wellbeing, they will be able to provide you with insights into how to support the student, and to understand their needs, or triggers.

Our kids have a right to be SAFE - Any disclosure of abuse, harm, psychological risk or changes in student disposition should be reported using the appropriate protocols - speak with your leadership team to make sure you know what these are - teachers have a professional duty of care to report any suspected harm to students. 

Protecting Children - Reporting and other Legal Obligations

Child Protection and Child Safe Standards (PROTECT)

Students can benefit from learning:

• How to participate in conversation

• Listening skills and cues

• Body language and verbal tone

• Emotional literacy

• Collaboration skills