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What does behaviour incident logging teach students?

Monday, March 24, 2025

One of my favourite ways to access a bit of light relief at work is to read the day's behaviour log.

I roll my eyes that little Johnny has thrown his shoe at someone again, or Jodie has stormed out of another lesson. Occasionally I read that a child I get on well with has done something silly, and make a note to discuss it with them. When I record behaviour incidents myself, I try to make my summaries at least a little entertaining; I know some other teachers do the same. Partly for voyeurs such as myself, and partly because I know the behaviour staff often find the work soul-crushing. So I'll drop in tongue-in-cheek euphemisms ("drew an anatomical diagram on his desk"), abrupt frankness ("persistent nipple rubbing to amuse friends"), and other levity ("used her lunchtime banana as a projectile weapon").

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