POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

•POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT IS STRONGER THAN NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT,

IN THE CLASSROOM (AND IN THE HOME). “MOST EXPERTS SAY IT SHOULD

HAPPEN THREE TIMES AS OFTEN AS CRITICISM AND CORRECTION.” (P. 210)

• DIFFERENTIATE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND PRAISE.

• EXPECTED WORK IS ACKNOWLEDGED, WHILE EXCEPTIONAL WORK IS PRAISED.

• EXAMPLES:

• DESCRIBING WHAT THE STUDENT DID OR THANKING THE STUDENT ARE GOOD WAYS TO

ACKNOWLEDGE THE STUDENT‟S WORK.

• STUDENTS WHO DO EXCEPTIONAL WORK DESERVE TO BE PRAISED. “PRAISING USUALLY

CARRIES A JUDGMENT IN ADDITION TO A MERE DESCRIPTION: „FANTASTIC WORK, JOHN!‟

„SHAYNA‟S REALLY DONE SOMETHING AMAZING!” (P. 211)

•PRAISING A STUDENT FOR JUST DOING WHAT IS EXPECTED OF EVERYONE,

THEN YOU LOWER THE STANDARDS IN YOUR CLASSROOM.

•PRAISE (AND ACKNOWLEDGE) LOUD; FIX SOFT. CORRECT LESS-THAN-

EXCEPTION BEHAVIOR QUIETLY – EVEN NON-VERBALLY, IF POSSIBLE – BUT

ACKNOWLEDGE CORRECT BEHAVIOR OPENLY.

•ACKNOWLEDGE AND PRAISE HARD WORK, NOT BEING SMART. WORKING

HARD IS SOMETHING EVERYONE CAN DO.

•BEING SMART ISN‟T. IF YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND PRAISE HARD WORK, YOU

ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO STRIVE FOR THAT PRAISE.

•PRAISE MUST BE GENUINE.

PRECISE PRAISE – SAMPLE VIDEO 1

Video 1

PRECISE PRAISE – SAMPLE VIDEO 2

Video 2