Student Contributor: E. Holmes
As a teacher, we are role models inside and outside the classroom. By modeling positivity, students will feel more motivated and have a more enjoyable experience during school.
Being positive in every situation can show students that you believe in them and you are willing to work with them. There is always a positive way to respond to a situation. By modeling positivity, you are also showing your students how to deal with situations in a more beneficial way. When using this, make sure to model positivity to all the students, even the trouble makers. Positivity helps students feel motivated and can make them feel a sense of belonging in the classroom. Along with motivation, this tool will also help build relationships between the teacher and the students. Just a few ways to show positivity is congratulating them on their hard work, reminding them that you believe in them even when the tasks are hard, and when speaking to a student using positive wording.
This tool can be used in all three phases. However, it shouldn’t be used just in the Preventative phase because positivity should be modeled throughout the school year. As for the corrective phase, this tool could also be used but a student shouldn’t have to misbehave in order to be shown positivity. This is why the Supportive phase is the best fit. This tool has the potential to help students in the classroom. As for Theories of Influence, I believe this is a Student-directed approach if you have the right intentions. A Student-directed teacher empowers students so they feel a sense of belonging. This is what modeling positivity should help with. Positivity can also build a relationship between the student and the teacher. This tool could also fit into the Collaborative theory because the teacher and the student will build a relationship. Right intentions mean modeling positivity because you believe in your students and want to build a relationship with them. This is why both the Student-directed and Collaborative theory work best for modeling positivity.
More Information –
Tool Source: This idea came from a website with 7 different strategies for building a positive classroom http://www.ascd.org/
