Guide to Teachers
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
GUIDE TO TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
INTRODUCTION
This evolving guide to teaching and professional practices provides shared guidelines for all teachers at Don Bosco Technique.
Its purpose is to support consistently high standards of teaching, promote student success and ensure a learning environment built on respect, discipline and excellence. Each teacher is encouraged to embrace this guide as a resource for enriching their professional practice and to apply it with professionalism and sound judgement. The academic leadership team will support its implementation through observations, discussions, constructive feedback and professional evaluations.
Commitment to these shared practices is an important aspect of professional responsibility and informs the assessment of each teacher’s development and performance.
General Discipline and School
Climate
- During the Buongiorno and all other student assemblies, teachers are responsible for their classes. They must have students line up, maintain order, ensure that instructions are followed and prevent unnecessary talking.
- Upon entering the classroom and throughout the lesson, teachers must insist on cleanliness and respect for the surroundings, equipment and others.
- Classes must be conducted in an atmosphere of calm, discipline and mutual respect, with consideration for nearby classes and without disruptive noise.
- Teachers taking the final lesson of the day (12:50–13:40) must leave the classroom clean, tidy and in good condition. Students are responsible for ensuring this under the teacher’s supervision, and the teacher must explain its importance to them.
- Teachers must promptly report any damage they notice to classroom furniture or equipment (tables, chairs, windows, equipment, etc.) to the staff member responsible for discipline.
Teachers’ Responsibilities and
Professional Conduct
Our Approach: Educate • Care • Support • Guide • Act Professionally
Administrative Rules and Teacher Discipline
- Teachers scheduled to teach at 8:00 must be present at DBT by 7:40 and attend the Buongiorno with their class.
- During the Buongiorno, teachers move between the rows to encourage calm and reflection. They lead by example through active and respectful participation.
- To ensure that lessons run smoothly, all teachers are expected to be punctual. Any lateness must be exceptional and reported in accordance with established procedures.
- To maintain students’ attention and a professional learning environment, mobile phones must not be used in class except for authorised teaching or administrative purposes.
- Teachers intervene whenever verbal or physical misconduct occurs. All incidents must be reported to the school leadership immediately.
- Teachers may use educational measures such as memorisation exercises, written assignments, research tasks or detention, in consultation with the academic director. The measures chosen must remain proportionate, educational and appropriate to the situation.
- When the final bell rings (13:40), teachers ensure that they are the last to leave their classrooms and, wherever possible, accompany students as they leave.
- Each teacher regularly reviews the procedures, circulars and announcements posted in the staff WhatsApp group. All staff members are expected to be aware of this information and to follow the guidance it provides.
- Teachers adhere to their working hours and arrive on time. Repeated instances of lateness or failure to adhere to working hours are addressed in accordance with the applicable regulations and through professional dialogue with the school leadership.
Classroom Discipline and
Student Behaviour
- Teachers establish clear rules for speaking in class: students raise their hands and wait for permission before contributing.
- To maintain an environment conducive to learning, students remain in their seats and ask the teacher’s permission before moving around.
- Students are not permitted to leave the classroom during lessons. Any exceptional circumstances are handled in accordance with school procedures.
- Teachers enforce punctuality rules and direct any student who arrives late to the staff member responsible for discipline.
- Between lessons, teachers ensure that students remain in the classroom, in accordance with the school’s arrangements.
- Teachers promote respectful language at all times and intervene immediately whenever inappropriate remarks are made, working with the staff member responsible for discipline when necessary.
- Teachers, particularly those teaching practical subjects, supervise their classes as they move around campus, ensuring that students walk quietly and in line.
- Teachers accompany their classes when moving from one location to another and ensure that students do not move around unaccompanied.
- Teachers maintain an environment conducive to learning by limiting side conversations and keeping classroom discussions focused on the lesson objectives.
Teaching and Classroom
Communication
- Language teachers communicate with students in the language they teach, both inside and outside the classroom. They encourage students to use that language in their interactions as well.
- Teachers of scientific or specialist subjects use French during their lessons.
- In both classrooms and workshops, teachers balance direct instruction with activities that encourage student participation, communication and self-expression.
- Quizzes and tests are designed to accurately assess what students have learned over a defined period of instruction.
- Quizzes, tests and examinations support fair and meaningful assessment: their level of difficulty aligns with the course objectives and the abilities students are expected to demonstrate.
- Wherever possible, teachers refer to the course textbook and guide students in using it. When no textbook is available, they provide written lesson materials or supplementary worksheets and ensure that students have the necessary notes and documents.
- Teachers ensure that students complete their homework. If students repeatedly fail to do so, teachers inform the staff member responsible for discipline so that an appropriate educational measure can be put in place, which may include detention to complete the assigned work.
- In response to the growing use of artificial intelligence tools, teachers are encouraged, where appropriate, to ask students to give a brief oral explanation or presentation of their work. This helps verify that the work is their own and assess their actual understanding, particularly for assignments that are graded or presented in class.
- Each lesson begins with a review of prior learning and a clear explanation of the session’s learning objectives.
- Teachers regularly check students’ understanding through questions, exercises, activities or scenario-based tasks.
- Teachers adapt, wherever possible, their teaching methods to students’ levels and needs to help as many students as possible succeed.
- Teachers encourage students to participate actively, ask questions, express their ideas and develop critical thinking skills in a respectful environment.
- Quizzes, tests and examinations are marked within a reasonable timeframe, with explanations that help students understand their mistakes.
- Teachers use a variety of teaching approaches: explanations, individual and group work, case studies, projects, demonstrations and practical exercises to maintain engagement and accommodate different learning styles.
Lesson Organisation and Teaching
Management
Good practice involves assigning homework regularly, at least once a week, and reviewing the answers in class. E-School is used to post both the homework and the corresponding answers.
Supplementary handouts are uploaded to E-School or incorporated into structured notes in students’ notebooks.
At least one week before each quiz, teachers clearly inform students of the material to be assessed and post it on E-School.
At least two weeks before each test or examination, teachers clearly inform students of the material to be assessed and post it on E-School.
Every quiz, test and examination is marked and reviewed in class. The teacher explains the expected answers, discusses common mistakes and helps students understand their difficulties. Marked papers are returned with clear, relevant comments.
Teachers have the professional autonomy to assess students through oral or written quizzes, homework assignments, projects or research tasks.
Tests and examinations are more formal, as they cover several concepts studied over a defined period. Teachers are provided with a specific procedure to follow.
When a student misses a quiz, the teacher uses their professional judgement to decide how to proceed. For a missed test or examination, the teacher consults the school leadership to determine whether the student receives a zero or takes a make-up assessment, based on the circumstances of the absence and the supporting documentation provided.
Teachers check that homework assignments and projects have been completed, assess them and may incorporate the results into quiz grades.
Each lesson lasts 50 minutes. Teachers prepare their lessons in advance to make the most of the available time and, where useful, allow a few minutes for a recap.
Teachers ensure that students record the necessary explanations, exercises and activities in their notebooks.
Teachers have a copy of the textbook, guide students in its use and regularly incorporate it into assignments and activities. Each student is expected to have the textbook from the first week of classes.
For BP classes, teachers provide assignment details both in writing and on E-School. Recording these in students’ notebooks complements the online posting and helps students organise their preparation.
CONCLUSION
This guide is intended to serve as an evolving, shared framework for guiding and structuring teaching practices at Don Bosco Technique.
It may be expanded and adapted to reflect the school’s needs and developments in education.
By embracing this guide, all teachers contribute to consistent teaching practices, high-quality learning and student success.
The academic leadership team will support its implementation and ongoing development as part of a commitment to continuous improvement.
Our sponsors
