← Back to articles The 3 Fundamental Principles of Positive Reinforcement Carolanne Tremblay , Wednesday, April 11 2018

In another post, I shared the most effective methods (in my experience) to set up classroom management using positive reinforcement with your students. In order to facilitate the implementation of this classroom management, I decided today to present to you the fundamental principles of reinforcement of expected behaviors.

First, let's do a little reminder about this type of disciplinary management. Positive reinforcement is based on the principle that by consolidating expected behaviors in students, students will tend to act according to our expectations. By reinforcing a behavior, it will tend to be repeated over time.

Three foundations are at the root of positive reinforcement in the classroom.

Encourage. Notice. Value.

"The way we offer positive reinforcement is more important than the quantity." B.F. Skinner

Encourage.

Encourage your students to continually excel. Use different ways to do it, either by offering tangible, social or verbal rewards. Prioritize methods of encouragement that have a positive impact on your students. Diversify them and adjust them according to the character of each one. We will tend to start with the tangible rewards, then go to the social or verbal rewards, all obviously according to the level of adhesion of young people to the reward.

To encourage the behaviors expected of your students, act accordingly yourself on a daily basis. You are a model and you must act as such.

Smile at your students, greet them at the entrance of your classroom before classes begin, respect their right to speak, listen to their opinions, question them about their personal interests, and encourage sociability in your class by developing real relationships with them.

Notice.

Notice the changes in students in your classroom. As much the expected changes in their behavior as a change of dress style, haircut or general attitude. Notice these changes in a positive way. In another vein, I would add that the micro changes that begin on the path of a bigger change hoped for should also be noticed. If a student who has difficulty in waiting for his turn interrupts a friend but notices and apologizes, he deserves to be noticed and congratulated.

In order to be aware of all the changes that occur in your classroom during the year, you must be alert. Walk around your classroom when students are working. It will allow you to see changes in note taking, writing, working in teams, and so on.

Take an interest in your students so you can see what's new in their lives. Be aware that they have a personal life outside the classroom and be interested, really interested. Really get to know them, invest yourself emotionally! It will then be easier to find ways to positively reinforce them that will stick with them and impact their behavior.

Value.

Value students who have the expected behaviors, as soon as they do. If a student raises his hand, give him the right to speak congratulating the fact that he has waited his turn, for example.

Empower your students at different times by giving them positive attention. A "high five" at the reception, a smile, a calm moment to allow them to relax after a particularly difficult period of work, etc.

Do not be stingy with your positive comments. Radiate with your students and they will return the favor. Be careful! Reinforce all your young people, even those who have to work more on their behaviors. Strengthen in key moments, at all times.

Reinforcement is powerful! It must be targeted by clearly naming what you value to the person concerned and formulating it with enthusiasm and with conviction to be considered by young people. Especially, considering that you are a person to whom the young person wants to please by the quality of your relationship.

Finally, for positive reinforcement to have a real impact on your teaching, it's simple. Take the time to establish interpersonal relationships with your students, take an interest in them, thank them for the efforts they make, value them on a daily basis and they will give you back a hundred times more.