Classroom Management: Reinforcement & Punishment

Classroom Management is one of the most important aspects of being a teacher. We are responsible for creating an effective learning environment. To manage a classroom, we need to understand the basics of Skinner's (Behaviorism) reinforcement and punishment.

Reinforcement: There are two types of reinforcement -- Positive and negative. When we reinforce behavior, we want that behavior to increase.

Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement means that we give a reward to the student so she will increase the behavior. Rewards can be simple things like a smile, classroom points, extra play time...anything that the students finds to be good. This will depend on YOUR students and what they like. Here are some examples of positive reinforcement.

Smiles

Positive statements

Points towards a big reward like a prize

Thumbs up by teacher

Telling them good job.

Sometimes food or candy (special occasions)

Negative Reinforcement:

Negative reinforcement means that we take something unpleasant away. This means that something the students DON'T like will not happen. This taking away something negative will also increase behavior. Remember, we take away a negative thing and this becomes a positive which will increase the behavior. For example, if the students do well, they do not have to clean the paintbrushes. Or, if they show polite and kind behavior to fellow students, they will not have to receive homework.

"You did your assignments today students. NO homework!"

Here is an example of negative reinforcement - the teachers took some unpleasant event away and now the students will probably increase their positive behavior of doing their assignments in class.

Punishment: This means that students receive something that they do not like. This will decrease the behavior.

Punishment means that we give the students something that they don't like to decrease the behavior. Remember, punishment is not meant to be mean; it is meant to be something that will decrease behavior. Here are some examples:

Frowns

staying after school

taking away points

Telling them that you are not happy

Calling parents

Losing a privilege at school

Going to see the principal