Positive Reinforcement Goes a Long Way!

During my fieldwork hours, I chose to observe two different teachers in different grades.  The most important thing that I've learned from this experience is that positive reinforcement is most beneficial to smoothly running a classroom.  Students that are given more positive reinforcement are more likely to continue exhibiting appropriate behaviors.  In one class, when the whole class has been behaving or quietly working when needed, the teacher would add pom-poms to a jar (this also was done in the reverse).  When the jar was full, the class was rewarded.

In the other class that I observed, the teacher was very good at pointing out and rewarding individuals who were showing appropriate behaviors.  If a student was quietly working or getting out necessary materials for the lesson, for example, the student would be given a piece of paper to write his/her name on and that would be put in a bucket.  At the end of each day, a name was drawn from the bucket and that student received a little treat.  Focusing on appropriate behaviors took attention away from those students who were exhibiting inappropriate behaviors.  Students would help each other stay on task, as well.

Positive reinforcement shows the teacher cares and respects his/her class.  It also gives the students something to look forward to for doing what they should be doing.  Everyone likes to be rewarded or recognized from time to time for things they've done well.