Classroom Expectations and Rules

What is the positive reinforcement students need to thrive?

Updated on
alt="grey background, yellow chalk lightbulb on the left, 3 white chalk stairs going down to the right to a blue then a yellow stair, and on the bottom two stairs a child in a blue and white superhero costume with a red flowing cape is standing with his arm raised towards the question What is the Positive Reinforcement Students Need to Thrive?"

Positive behavior support contributes to a strong classroom management plan where students feel safe and part of a team. Affirmations are free, require no prep, and are always accessible. They are the positive reinforcement students need.

You’ll be giving feedback anyway, so why not make it the positive reinforcement students need to thrive? 

The Value of Specificity When Using Positive Reinforcement

“Good job!” lacks specificity. 

Consider instead the impact of, “Great job, Cheyenne! I can see how carefully you worked through each math problem and showed your step. I can see your hard work is paying off.” 

This specificity clearly communicates what the student did well and why.

The positive reinforcement students need:

  • helps students to focus on the task.
  • encourages students to keep working hard.
  • clearly communicates what the student did well and why.
  • clarifies and confirms the expected standards for the task.
  • points out where and how to improve.
  • communicates that you love them as they are, not just as who you want them to be. 
alt="A coffee cup sitting on a table to the left of a book with the title Rewire Your Brain With Positive Affirmations to encourage teachers to encourage their own positive reinforcements."
When creating a pattern of affirmational thoughts,
a teacher is most likely to succeed with their students if the teacher starts with his or her self.

When You Feel Like There’s Nothing Positive to Say

I believe that we all have value, and I also believe that if I can’t think of something the positive reinforcement a students need then I don’t know that child well enough. 

The most powerful behavior management strategy is building relationships. 

The Two-Minute Strategy

One effective and simple relationship building strategy is to spend 2 minutes a day for 10 school days in a row with the student with whom you need to build a more positive relationship. This may feel awkward as sometimes it means following them around, but it works. Note their interests like drawing or preferred activities, and give them your undivided positive attention. 

By identifying their interests you will, hopefully, be able to provide positive reinforcement students need as well.  Hopefully, you will see both see each other in a new light.

alt="Brownie beige wall in the background, with cream table in the foreground, 3 stacked wooden blocks with question marks on them and the question "What about that student?" to recognise that there are students with whom it is difficult to offer the positive reinforcement students need, but it is still the job of the teacher to try."
As adults it is essential that we build a positive relationship with every student in our class.

Using the Positive Reinforcement Students Need to Keep Students on Task

I ran a tight class, but I always had a kind word for someone.  Affirming a student for the whole class to hear is a very effective way of keeping your students on task. For example, when you say, “Thank you, Brad, for getting your chair out!”  you gently remind others to do the same.

Remember to Encourage Baby Steps

Affirm progress, not perfection. Carlton (not his real name), who often blurted out, went through many stages before he learned to raise his hand and wait. At first he would blurt a little bit, cover his mouth with one hand, and then shoot his other hand up with his eyes wide open.

This progress, not absolute perfection, deserves acknowledgment and praise. I typically gave him a nod, smile and wink while I continued to teach or called on others.  He, and everyone else, knew what I was “saying”, and he beamed.

alt="blond haired girl in light blue golf shirt at a table working on making patterns with multi-colored bottle caps while a brunette female teacher is sitting further back at the table smiling and watching to elaborate on the concept of 2 minutes a day for 10 days as a strategy in providing the positive reinforcement students need."
Although sometimes it can feel awkward, finding ways to focus on a child for 2 minutes a day for ten school days can build the relationship you need.

Positive Reinforcement and a Growth Mindset

At times I used the positive reinforcement students need to teach my students to face challenges. For instance, during the dreaded snowsuit season, I helped students with zippers by showing them once or twice, and then I sat with them as they learned to do it for themselves.  

When they had achieved their goal I asked them how it felt to do it on their own. They learned to connect that sense of accomplishment with the act of overcoming a challenge.

Simply asking affirming questions like “Did you do that? Wow! Did you figure that out on your own?” can boost a student’s growth mindset.

alt="on the left a brunette female teacher wearing yellow is sitting with her profile to the camera, and she is high fiving a young girl with dark curly hair who is sitting across from her at a semi circular table that has 3 other girls at it trying the two minute strategy to support relationship and the positive reinforcement students need."
Positive reinforcement builds success for all of the students not just the student you are addressing.

Positive Reinforcement For Yourself

Teachers need affirmations too, and your self-talk matters. Reflect on your positive steps daily, and celebrate it. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal – progress is. 

Positive Affirmations Checklist:

  • Build relationships with your students.
  • Use thank-yous as gentle reminders.
  • Recognize that “doing your best” varies for each child and affirm baby steps.
  • Maintain strong boundaries and high expectations, but be with them every step of the way.
  • Share the kind words of others.
  • Be gentle with and reaffirm yourself too.

If you are not used to using positive feedback it can take a little bit of work to shift your mindset, but you can do it. This was a learned behavior for me too. I did notice that it was often more difficult to be positive when I was pushed for time because I had planned too much or something too difficult. Then I just had to loosen the reins a bit, and focus on their best efforts.

Be gentle with yourself.  You’ve got this.

alt=" young redheaded boy in a green, brown and cream checked short sleeve button down shirt has his arms raised in victory with a big smile on his face to reinforce that sometimes the positive reinforcement students need comes from differentiating their work in a manner which offers success."
Positive reinforcements also come with our actions as we provide work that creates opportunities for every student to succeed.

Share the Affirmations from Others

Substitute teachers, administrators and other teachers all acknowledged what a lovely group I had every year.  

I shared with my classes the notes and comments I received such as:

  • “Mr. Z. was really impressed when he dropped in to see how you were listening to the substitute.”
  • “Mrs. C. loves to sub in our class because you are so helpful, and you work so well together.”
  • “Thank you for helping Mrs. M.  She mentioned that you showed her where the supplies were for Math.”

By doing this I communicated both  that I am aware of their behavior when I am absent, and also that others see their fantastic choices as well. 😉

Affirming Yourself

Teachers need affirmations too, and your self-talk matters. Reflect on your positive steps daily, and celebrate it. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal – progress is. 

Positive Affirmations Checklist:

  • Build relationships with your students.
  • Use thank-yous as gentle reminders.
  • Recognize that “doing your best” varies for each child and affirm baby steps.
  • Maintain strong boundaries and high expectations, but be with them every step of the way.
  • Share the kind words of others.
  • Be gentle with and reaffirm yourself too.

If you are not used to using positive feedback it can take a little bit of work to shift your mindset, but you can do it. This was a learned behavior for me too. I did notice that it was often more difficult to be positive when I was pushed for time because I had planned too much or something too difficult. Then I just had to loosen the reins a bit, and focus on their best efforts.

Be gentle with yourself.  You’ve got this.

Dark Green background, pictures of a classroom management checklist, and text that reads, Download the Free Classroom Management Checklist today.

Let’s Connect! :

✅  Store

⭐ Youtube

💜  Facebook

☀️  Pinterest

You may also like...

Skip to content