Encourage students with what they do correctly. Do not focus on the negative or what they do wrong. Teachers and parents often focus on a negative behavior or a mistake on an assignment. However, recognizing and acknowledging what is correct encourages students toward success. A positive acknowledgment helps students feel positive about being in school. It also gives students a positive attitude about themselves.
Celebrating positives motivates students. As the students feel motivated, the teacher also feels motivated. It works hand in hand.
- Create a mindset that focuses on positive actions, not negative actions. This tells students what is expected and gives them reminders.
- Stay calm when you get the unexpected from students. Displaying frustration only makes the matter worse. Take a breath.
- Use positive reinforcement with rewards.
When teachers display frustration and anger, students simulate what they see. Thus, everyone in the class loses focus on the lesson.
Encourage Students and Good Behavior
- It’s important to reinforce kindness. Students need to have a safe environment and feel comfortable in the classroom. Kindness means more than being nice to peers. Kindness is helping and encouraging peers.
- Reward or phrase initiative. This is when a student helps another without being told.
- A student who shows respect for school property should be praised. A student who reports 0n a misuse or destruction of school property is not tattling. When students clean up after themself or others, this needs to be praised.
- Responsible students are on time for school. They turn assignments in on time. They stay on task and do not cause distractions.
- They exhibit patience. Students wait their turn and do not talk over others.
- Praise students for following classroom rules.
It’s important to be proactive as it is important to acknowledge good behavior. The more praise is used, the more students stay focused on assignments and lessons.
Tune Out Negativity
Teach students to tune out negativity. Encourage them to seek positive friends. Providing positive reminders to students is beneficial to their health. According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking lowers levels of distress, greater resistance to illness, better psychological and physical well-being, and lowers the rate of depression.
- Model positive talk.
- Model positive actions.
- Think positive thoughts.
- Reflect on positive actions.
A positive attitude always sees possibilities. Life can’t always be controlled, but a positive attitude helps the outcome of the situation.
