Professional LearningCommencing September 2026
Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning
A three-part workshop series on teaching behaviour in the classroom
Classroom management isn't separate from teaching. It is teaching's essential foundation.
Classroom management has more influence on student achievement than almost anything else a teacher does – yet most teachers were never explicitly taught how to do it. This three-part program is designed for classroom educators at every career stage who want to change that.
Work with Tim McDonald to explore the CORE Framework – Calm, Orderly, Respectful Environments – a systematic, evidence-informed approach to teaching behaviour. Together, you will unpack the why, what and how of creating classrooms where learning becomes possible for every student, including evidence-based routines and norms, specific teacher techniques, and whole-school implementation strategies. You will leave with an action plan for your unique context.
Facilitator
Dr Tim McDonald
Dr Tim McDonald is one of Australia's leading voices on student behaviour. A former teacher, Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University, and Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia, he is now CEO of YMCA Western Australia and subject matter expert to the Federal Government's Engaged Classrooms Initiative, led by the Australian Education Research Organisation.
He is the author of Classroom Management: Engaging Students in Learning, now in its third edition, and Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning (Oxford University Press). He has coached hundreds of teachers on classroom management and his work is shaped by a lifelong commitment to educational equity.
Learning outcomes
Following this program, you will:
- be able to articulate why classroom behaviour requires explicit instruction, using contemporary cognitive science principles to explain this to colleagues
- understand the principles for establishing effective classroom rules, including how these rules formalise a values-driven culture, the importance of explicit teaching from day one, and the criteria for well-designed rules
- identify and respond to disruptive and disengaged student behaviours using the least intrusive intervention principle, by selecting the appropriate level of the behaviour response hierarchy for common classroom scenarios.
Webinar dates
| Intake | Workshop | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop 1 | Tuesday, 1 September, 4.00–5.30 pm (AEST) | |
| 1 | Workshop 2 | Tuesday, 15 September, 4.00–5.30 pm (AEST) |
| Workshop 3 | Tuesday, 20 October, 4.00–5.30 pm (AEDT) | |
| Workshop 1 | Wednesday, 9 September, 4.00–5.30 pm (AEST) | |
| 2 | Workshop 2 | Wednesday, 23 September, 4.00–5.30 pm (AEST) |
| Workshop 3 | Wednesday, 28 October, 4.00–5.30 pm (AEDT) |
Program details
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Structure |
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| Mode | Synchronous online |
| Cost | $499.00 per participant Please contact bryn.jepson@oup.com to arrange for the discount to be applied. |
| What's included |
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| Completion requirements | To successfully complete this program, you must attend all three workshops |
| You will need | A stable internet connection and a device with a working camera and microphone |
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Workshop 1
The Case for Teaching Behaviour – Introducing the CORE Framework- 90 mins
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Workshop 2
What Behaviour to Teach – Values, Norms, Routines and Rules- 90 mins
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Workshop 3
Responding to Escalating Behaviour – The CORE Behaviour Response Hierarchy in Practice- 90 mins
Classroom Management: The Foundation of Learning
Tim McDonald
Classroom management isn’t separate from teaching. It is teaching’s essential foundation. Yet most teachers are never explicitly taught how to build it.
Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning offers a different path. Grounded in cognitive science, positive psychology, and the lived experience of thousands of classrooms, Dr Tim McDonald introduces the CORE Framework – a systematic approach to creating Calm, Orderly, Respectful Environments where every student can flourish.
This is more than a book of principles. It is a complete operational toolkit – scripts, routines, de-escalation protocols, behaviour support plans, and structured re-entry processes teachers can use from Monday morning.
Classroom Management: The Foundation for Learning is publishing in August 2026!