Positive or Specific Praise

Positive and/or Specific Praise

To make positive changes, students need a clear idea of what positive behaviour is and to be positively reinforced when they demonstrate that behaviour. Positive reinforcement is any event that follows a behaviour and increases the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated. Positive reinforcement motivates students to do what they are capable of doing. Students need to receive repeated positive reinforcement as motivation for demonstrating appropriate behaviour.

When?

All students benefit from positive and specific reinforcement. Any behaviour can be targeted using this strategy, both appropriate behaviours and inappropriate. Inappropriate behaviours are changed by telling the student what you want him/her to do versus what you do not want the student to do. For example "walk" instead of "don't run" or "turn to page 58" versus "you need to stay on task."

How?

Using the 4:1 ratio

An important rule to remember is that for any student, and especially students who are displaying behaviour challenges, the teacher provides 4 positive reinforcement comments/gestures to every 1 negative or corrective interaction. At the end of the day, you should feel like you gave your students more positive reinforcements than negative.

Be Specific: Describe the Positive Behaviours While Giving Praise

The comments should focus on what the student did right and be stated in positive language. For example, “That was a wonderful paragraph you wrote because…” or “I like the way you are lining up and keeping your hands to yourself.”

Give Praise Immediately

The sooner the positive reinforcement is given in relation to a behaviour, the more likely the student will continue to repeat that behaviour. Typically, behaviours should be reinforced within 30 seconds.

Examples

Turning negative responses to positive responses.

Changing non-specific reinforcement or directions into specific

information that will help students comprehend their expectation and

understand why they are being reinforced.