This document discusses a teacher's guide to positive reinforcement. It explains that positive reinforcement can encourage students to continue improving when grades start to decline. There are three types of positive reinforcement: natural reinforcement from proper behaviors, social reinforcement like praise from teachers and peers, and activity reinforcement by allowing students to participate in favored activities. The key is knowing each student's preferences for how they like to be encouraged and using different reinforcement methods tailored to individual students. The goal of positive reinforcement is to help students see the changes they want to see in themselves and their learning.

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A teacher’s simple
guide to positive
reinforcement
posted Apr 10, 2018, 4:03 PM by Adam M Smith
[ updated Apr 10, 2018, 4:04 PM ]
Teachers and parents are always hoping
to see improvements in a child’s
learning. Students themselves work to
see the change they want to see in their
selves. However, the task of positive
reinforcement can easily be overlooked,
especially when a child loses focus and
grades start to decline. Teachers, with
the help of parents or guardians, can
encourage a child to keep moving
forward in school.
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Image source: pixabay.com
Not all students are the same. Positive
reinforcement can be exercised
di erently from one student to another.
Some students don’t feel like being
praised verbally that much, while others
nd joy in hearing positive words about
them. A key to reinforcing a child’s
progress and positive attitude
successfully is rst knowing how they
prefer to be encouraged.
There are three di erent kinds of
positive reinforcement. Natural and
direct reinforcement results straight
from the proper behavior, such as
interacting directly with peers in group
activities, which will set o more
invitations to join such activities.
Social reinforcement is mediated by
teachers, parents, other adults, and
peers and is expressed as acceptance
and praise for proper behavior. Written
approval and expressions of those such
as clapping, smiling, a pat on the back
are all e ective reinforcements.
Activity reinforcement is the last kind,
allowing students to participate in their
favored activities like games, computer
time, reading time, and others. This is
important especially if part of the
reinforcement is permitting the child to
pick a partner for an activity, thus
providing social reinforcement to the
chosen partner of the child.

3. 5/24/2018 A teacher’s simple guide to positive reinforcement - Adam M Smith
https://sites.google.com/site/adammsmithusa/blog/a-teachers-simple-guide-to-positive-reinforcement 3/3
Image source: pixabay.com
Adam M. Smith teaches the biological and
social sciences. Every time he enters the
classroom, he endeavors to embody the
values of Teach For America. For more
reads about education, visit this page.
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