First look at Positive Reinforcement

The Basics of Verbal Positive Reinforcement

After my first two interviews and finding a new direction in my inquiry I decided to look a little into positive reinforcement. Having worked as a dance teacher and now a teaching assistant in a primary school my experiences have helped me with an small insight to using positive reinforcement. However, I needed to look at the basics and why using this in a teaching environment can help. 

From looking back on my journal and reading through personal experiences whilst in the two different teaching environments I have found examples of when I used effective positive reinforcement. Considering I'm no expert myself the outcome of the method improved the behaviour and atmosphere of the classroom, even if it was just for that lesson. 

" Positive reinforcement has the potential to be one of the most potent strategies teachers can use to motivate students." (L. Canter)

L, Canter talks about verbal reinforcement and how it is the most frequent reinforcement used in classrooms today. He goes on to recognise the two basic different types  of verbal reinforcement which are:  recognition and praise. 

The difference between the two is that, "recognition entails letting students know that you acknowledge they are meeting your expectations in a nonjudgemental manner" (L. Canter)

However, praise on the other hand is different, "Praise if judgemental. Along with acknowledging the students have met your expectations, you add comments indications your approval of their actions" (L. Canter)

Bibliography

L. Canter, 2010. Assertive Discipline: Positive behaviour management for today's calssroom. Solution Tree Press. 

Findings so far...

A different direction perhaps?

Over the last month I have found my research has taken a new direction I didn't think would be emphasised in my inquiry. The interview process was to ask the same questions to one classroom teacher and one dance teacher, but keeping it semi-structered to allow for different topics to arise if necessary. Throughout the two interviews there are moments of in depth discussion about the different methods of discipline used in the two different teaching environments including examples of these.

In the middle of the both interviews, on exactly the same question both teachers brought up positive reinforcement and spoke about how this is a strong technique used to encourage and create a positive atmosphere. They both spoke about the specific language used to help reinforce discipline in the classroom, for example, using phrases such as "I really like the way you accomplished that because we got this outcome" or "Lovely sitting is being shown in this area." Rather than singling out the unruly behaviour to a class full of students, positive reinforcement concentrates on the correct behaviour being used in the classroom and praising such individuals.

Now where should I go?

After speaking with Paula about the findings from my interview she suggested to possibly carry out another two interviews with different teachers to see if there were similar developments in those interviews. In order for me to concentrate on this new direction I felt I needed to gain more data and felt that the extra interviews would produce this outcome. After finding two available practitioners i have completed one and am waiting to start the other this week, and am very excited to see the outcome.