Positive classroom discipline is powerful when done well.
Are you working in a classroom that needs discipline intervention?
Or perhaps you want to have good classroom management through positive strategies?
How Providing Positive Feedback Can Change Behavior Habits And Improve Discipline in Your Classroom
While we will talk about the different steps to implement it, this strategy works every single time.
This approach will help you both with developing discipline as well as improving students’ performance. It will help you develop better relationship with the students as you would be guiding them to a better performance instead of forcing them to it.
Let’s start! Here is a step by step approach to it!
1. Start by getting into the habit of giving students positive feedback consistently
This positive reinforcement needs to be done at the beginning and at the end of every class.
It is always a good idea to start the class with a summary of what happened in the previous class as well as what the students will be working on.
Examples may sound like this :
- Last week we had a great class. We learned new song which we will continue today. However, I noticed that some of you were not quiet at the very end of class. This time I am going to be watching to congratulate the three quietest students at the end.
- Yesterday we practiced Twinkle and we worked on our second finger being in tune. Now I am going to be watching these second fingers and pointing out the students who are doing well with it.
2. Catch a behavior that you want and then
acknowledge it
Examples of phrases you would use:
- I noticed that…was doing a good job playing attention to the conductor
- I am congratulating…for…
- I noticed that…was quiet for the whole class
- Before we begin class today I’d like to congratulate … for getting here on time and being in rest position right away.
3. Focus on the positive
4. Never let students know who you would acknowledge and why
This strategy works only if the students are. The teachers should never give them a clue on the feedback that would be provided to them.
5. Don’t pick favorites
Make sure each child gets a chance to be acknowledged.
6. Be consistent giving the kids feedback in the same way over many lessons
7. Don’t give up! This strategy is powerful but it takes longer!
8. Notice how the classroom culture change!
Patience and consistency when building a positive discipline pays off. If you find success, please come back and share it in the comments!
Related Articles:
Building Relationships with Your Students
4 Steps To Keep Students Focused
Positive Discipline Tips I Wish I Read
I agree that positive reinforcement works much better than punishment! We all love praise 🙂