When utilizing positive language, you are offering specific aspects of praise for a student's efforts, behaviors, actions, and/or achievement. While positive language requires more accountability from the teacher, it allows language to be communicated in a way conducive for positive classroom environments and student learning. While it has been studied that positive growth mindsets, positive language, and positive feelings have short-term impact on people, they can have long lasting and impactful effects (Fredrickson, 2003).  Below are practical examples that could be used instantly. 

Examples of positive language techniques: 

• As opposed to saying "good job" for a student doing well on a multiplication math problem you assignment, you could say "I love how you showed your work, by solving the problem."

• If a student has not mastered a skill or strategy at the ending of a unit, instead of emphasizing on the mistakes, try to write or verbalize the term "not yet" for their assignment. This serves as an indication that they still have a chance to meet mastery, but have not met the goal yet. 

• Motivating students even when they do not currently possess the efficacy to do their best by saying statements like "you can do it," "I believe in you," "you've got this!"

• Empathizing with your student by using collaborative language such as "hey, let's work on this together," "let us talk through this strategy," and "how can make this better?" 

• Providing constructive feedback that is positive but does not completely negate the student's response. For example instead of saying "that is not correct," rephrasing the statement to say "I appreciate you sharing, however, that's not think about it differently."