6. Positive Classroom Management Strategies
The Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS) are 8 evidence-informed practices that create safer, more purposeful learning environments supporting student learning, wellbeing and behaviour.
About the PCMS
The PCMS consist of 8 evidence-informed instructional practices designed to create safer, purposeful learning environments. These practices support student learning and wellbeing while preventing and managing disruptive behaviours.
The practices are based on the guiding principle that behaviour can be taught with explicit teaching and positive reinforcement and disciplinary measures alone do not teach students what to do.
The PCMS are founded on the following principles:
- Appropriate and inappropriate behaviours are related to the environment in which they occur. Environments can encourage appropriate or inappropriate behaviours.
- Behaviour is functional. Individuals learn to use behaviours to get their needs met. Behaviour that works is likely to continue.
- Behaviour can be taught. It is possible to teach alternative replacement behaviours to meet students' needs more appropriately.
Get started with the PCMS
Based on the best evidence available, the following resources are designed to support teachers and school leaders in understanding and implementing the PCMS by providing:
- a clear description of each practice
- a suggested step-by-step guide to implementing each practice
- self-assessments and practice checklists
- an implementation action plan for school leaders including whole-school adoption which is recommended.
The key resources are as follows:
- Getting Started Guide – this guide provides advice for teachers wishing to adopt PCMS in their daily work. The introductory resource provides step-by-step advice for educators wishing to adopt PCMS in their instructional approach. The resource also provides additional advice for school leaders adopting the recommended whole-school implementation of the practices.
- Placemats – the placemats provide clear guidance on how to implement practices that promote evidence-informed classroom management strategies. A placemat for each practice, as well as a PCMS overview placemat is available. Refer to: Explore the 8 .
- Animations of each – an animation of each of the PCMS is available under each practice to introduce teachers and principals to the practices and their benefits.
The PCMS are based on the research base of School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS). The PCMS are intended to complement existing resources frameworks including FISO 2.0, The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model.
Explore the 8 PCMS
The PCMS are designed to increase the likelihood of greater instructional and engaged time. The PCMS overview placemat provides an outline of each of the 8 practices.
The 8 PCMS are as follows:
- Classroom behaviour expectations and rules
- Classroom procedures and routines
- Encouraging expected classroom behaviour
- Discouraging inappropriate classroom behaviour
- Active supervision
- Opportunities to respond
- Activity choice and sequence
- Task difficulty
Further information
For further information about the PCMSs refer to the Positive Classroom Management page or contact:
- Phone: 03 7022 1383
- Email: positive.behaviour@education.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 20 August 2024