Effective teaching requires the efficient use of classroom management to address problem behaviour and to maximise student engagement in learning. With many theories available, a beginning teacher should explore each, to best match their own personal pedagogy. This essay offers an overview of three behaviour management theories. Two are Psychoeducational theories based on the principles of Individual Psychology presented by Alfred Adler. This initial theory has been further developed in Goal Centred Theory (GCT), as a social theory based on a sense of belonging, and in Choice Theory, where the educator adopts a lead partner role rather than a manager role. The third theory discussed is Assertive Discipline, influenced by Behaviourist theory, which offers a distinct structure to assist students in achieving behavioural expectations. …show more content…
23), and to help students transfer acceptable behaviours to meet these needs (Lewis, 2008). GCT requires explicit whole class discussion about needs satisfaction and expectations, offering choices about rules and consequences rather than punishment, and encouraging effort over achievement. The key principles are democratic, based on the assumption that all children want acceptance and belonging into a social group (Lewis, 2008), and proposes that all misbehaviour stems from the mistaken belief that inappropriate behaviour will lead to group belonging. Cangelosi (1993) suggests that motivation is developed intrinsically through students having a voice in establishing class rules, and understanding the consequences of misbehaviour. Miller (2001) proposes that children respond favourably to democratic classroom structures and this assists the development of