Middle Years

Self-control: a skill worth practising 

With the return to school and the first week of Term Four, I suspect that many Middle Years students could think of other places they would prefer to be than back in class. While this desire to be elsewhere may be strong, working well in each subject requires a great deal of self-control: listening carefully to instructions, doing the work and maximising their learning.

Self-control is one of the quiet skills behind almost everything students do at school. It's what helps a student wait their turn to speak, keep going with a tricky maths problem, or putting their phone away to finish a homework task. Research consistently shows that strong self-regulation is linked to better learning outcomes, healthier friendships and greater wellbeing. The good news is that self-control can be learnt, improved and practised.

Self-control isn't about being silent or perfectly behaved. It's about students learning to:

• Pause before reacting, especially when they feel frustrated or excited

• Stay focused when something else is more appealing

• Manage disappointment, such as a lower mark than expected or not being chosen first

• Ask for help rather than giving up or acting out

   

For students in the Middle Years, this is a particularly important time. Their brains are still developing the skills that support planning, impulse control and emotional regulation, so it's normal for these skills to be a work in progress.

Middle Years teachers help students build their self-control through everyday routines and explicit teaching. Students are encouraged to:

• Use a "pause and plan" approach. Take a breath, think about what's being asked, then respond.

• Break big tasks into small steps. Smaller goals make it easier to stay on track and celebrate progress.

• Name their feelings. Students who can say "I'm frustrated" are better able to choose a helpful response.

• Reflect on their choices. Staff use calm, supportive conversations to help students consider what worked and what they might try next time.

   

Like any skill, self-control strengthens over time and with support. Some days will go better than others, and that's perfectly normal. By working on their self-control at school and at home, students develop the tools to manage themselves, now and well beyond the classroom.