Response to Positive Behavior

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Learning Goal

I can identify strategies to implement when responding to positive behavior.

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Recap: We explored a lot surrounding negative behaviors because that continues to be a problem most deal with. However, through managing those negative behaviors, we do not want to forget about supporting the positive ones. All students, whether they turned their poor choices around or were always making good choices, should be positively reinforced if they are continuously meeting the classroom expectations.

Explain

Positive reinforcement happens when we reward the behaviors we desire in order to encourage it happening again. This supports classroom behaviors because it can provide students with an expectation they need to continuously meet.

There are a variety of ways teachers can implement effective reinforcement strategies.

Provide positive responses to the desired behavior.
- I would say this response is the most crucial. It surrounds telling the child what he or she did well. This can be verbal communication using words of affirmation or nonverbal communication like a smile or a thumbs up. Regardless, any child that is consistently meeting classroom expectations should be positively reinforced.
Record the amount of times the behavior occurs.
- Again, if this behavior is happening consistently, it is important to acknowledge that. We can do that by keeping track. For instance, if Johnny spent the last 5 days completing his work and meeting his expectations in the classroom, it is important for that to be communicated to him. It helps him understand he is reaching his goals, and that is seen. One way this can be done is a sticker or token chart.
Design a plan for individual needs.
- Some children struggle with behavior management. Sometimes they demonstrate multiple inappropriate behaviors, so their needs in the classroom are different. Choose one behavior to focus on at a time. Define the behavior you want to see, and work towards that goal. Positively reinforce it, and focus on the progress with that specific goal.

Apply

Check out this video from TeachingMinute.

Your task: Can you identify 3 different occasions where you noticed positive reinforcement? State your answers on typeform.

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References

minute, teaching. (2012, May 4). Teachingminute: Positive reinforcements. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ml1tih5zSY

Epstein, M. H. (2008). Reducing behavior problems in the elementary school classroom. National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Dept. of Education.
EAB. (2023). (issue brief). Building A Better Behavior Management Strategy for Students and Teachers. Retrieved 2023
McKinney, A. (2023, July 7). Educator mindsets affect student performance. Teach. Learn. Grow. https://www.nwea.org/blog/2023/educator-mindsets-affect-student-performance/
Vanberbilt University. (2024). How can teachers increase the chances that their students will behave appropriately?. IRIS Center. https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/beh1/cresource/q2/p06/
Manzano, R. J., & Manzano, J. S. (2003, September). (PDF) the key to classroom management. Educational Leadership. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283749466_The_Key_to_Classroom_Management
Bath, P. (2019, May 4). How I respond to escalating behaviors. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f3tAhFWaLE
YouTube. (2012, February 28). Second grade students misbehaving in reading group. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4KLmUdczc8&t=5s
Bath, P. (2014b, June 19). How to meet oppositional defiance with a consistent limit... YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giHErboGZno
Timm, M. (n.d.). Acknowledging children’s positive behaviors - CSEFEL. http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/briefs/wwb_22.pdf