Miss. Huskin

Implementing positive reinforcement in the classroom means putting in that extra effort as the teacher to better your students as people and forever learners. It means creating a classroom where good behavior is encouraged and used as a motivator for students to continue to strive to do and be better. Theorist, Rudolf Dreikurs, strongly pushed the idea that teachers should "always speak in positive terms, never be negative". The Canters also backed this idea of positive reinforcement, stating "Positive recognition should be used frequently, as it tends to increase self-esteem, encourage good behavior, and build a positive classroom environment". 

Shaping is the use of reinforcement of a desired behavior and focusing on continuing that behavior. Teachers will encourage desired behavior while behaviors that are not desired will not be reinforced. Students have set expectations for them in the classroom and teachers are the model for said “desired behavior”. Theorist Linda Albert agrees with this statement and believes that unless teachers give their students a sense of belonging and model good behavior, students will continue to gravitate towards “bad behavior”. Skinner chose a different viewpoint but reached the same conclusion that "when students do something and are rewarded for it, they are more likely to repeat it".

Students are given a role in the classroom and expectations are set for them as learners and responsible human beings. Taking responsibility builds confidence and shows your students that they are important to the classroom community. It shows children how their actions influence themselves and those around them. Students with classroom responsibilities have higher self-esteem and empathy for others. Theorist Alfie Kohn strongly backs this idea and says "When students have no choice and control over learning, their achievement drops”. Similarly, William Glasser focuses on meeting students' basic needs by involving them in how they learn and giving them individual responsibilities.