Leonor, Great post! You and I have the exact thought when it comes to using positive reinforcement. I also feel that it is so important to use in the classroom in place of consequences. It is amazing how these kids want to impress us teachers so much even in the upper grade levels. I teach first grade and the kids love to be told how well they are working or how great they are sitting on the carpet. Like you stated, kids love just getting stickers or smiley faces on their paper. This is so important to some kids, and in some cases this is all the positive reinforcement they may get. To me using positive reinforcement should also be the first step in managing a classroom. My biggest problem that I am finding out this year is what to do with the kids that positive reinforcement does not work with. Right know I use the card system, if they have to flip their card to yellow they owe me ten laps at recess. But the problem is I have the same kids running laps everyday, so obviously this is not working. I need to come up with a better solution. I also think homework is essential, even in the lower grades. I give homework once a week and it is do on Friday. The homework I give is simple and the kids should know how to complete it all to themselves with no parent help. Then my big incentive is that if the whole class returns homework in then they will get a popcorn party. So each week we are working towards our popcorn party.
Leonor,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! You and I have the exact thought when it comes to using positive reinforcement. I also feel that it is so important to use in the classroom in place of consequences. It is amazing how these kids want to impress us teachers so much even in the upper grade levels. I teach first grade and the kids love to be told how well they are working or how great they are sitting on the carpet. Like you stated, kids love just getting stickers or smiley faces on their paper. This is so important to some kids, and in some cases this is all the positive reinforcement they may get. To me using positive reinforcement should also be the first step in managing a classroom. My biggest problem that I am finding out this year is what to do with the kids that positive reinforcement does not work with. Right know I use the card system, if they have to flip their card to yellow they owe me ten laps at recess. But the problem is I have the same kids running laps everyday, so obviously this is not working. I need to come up with a better solution. I also think homework is essential, even in the lower grades. I give homework once a week and it is do on Friday. The homework I give is simple and the kids should know how to complete it all to themselves with no parent help. Then my big incentive is that if the whole class returns homework in then they will get a popcorn party. So each week we are working towards our popcorn party.