This week for research to practice project I decided to focus on something different. Last past I looked at how a family structure affects a child’s behavior based on what I saw within my field placement. This week in class we read an article that was about talking to a student positively. I noticed in my field placement that the teachers within the classroom always talk to the students positively to redirect their behavior. I wanted to know more about why this works and the purpose behind it.
In Want Positive Behavior? Use Positive Language, an article featured on Responsive Classroom, they say the purpose of using positive language is to “enable students to learn in an engaged, active way” (2018). This will then lead to the children learning social skills and positive behavior.
Incorporating positive teacher language into the classroom can be difficult but there are tips to help. According to Alyssa Nucaro, author of Positive Words Go a Long Way, the first tip is to show the students that you have faith in them. Use language such as “I know you can do…”. Another tip is to be intentional about word choice and make sure they are direct. Nucaro writes “students who are spoken to directly and honestly are more likely to feel respected and safe, while also receiving the support they need to be successful both academically and behaviorally” (Nucaro, 2017).
I noticed in my field placement classroom that the teacher spoke to their students intentionally and directly. Today in my placement a student slammed his cubby door and it opened again. He continued to slam the door repeatedly. The teacher noticed and said “[student’s name], it looks like the door keeps opening after you slam it. Why don’t you try something else to make it shut”? Instead of telling the student “don’t slam the door” the teacher changed the tone while redirecting the student’s behavior. As a result, the student stopped slamming the door and closed it properly.
The result of positive behavior due to the use of the positive teacher language shows that speaking this way to students is very beneficial. It encourages students to make the right choice and continue to learn.
Citations
Nucaro, A. (2017, October 02). Positive Words Go a Long Way. Retrieved April 29, 2019, from https://www.edutopia.org/article/positive-words-go-long-way
Sayner, S. (2018, November 7). [Our words matter]. Retrieved April 29, 2019, from https://www.weareteachers.com/positive-language-in-the-classroom/
R. (2018, February 06). Want Positive Behavior? Use Positive Language. Retrieved April 29, 2019, from https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/want-positive- behavior-use-positive-language/