About the strategy
Positive framing is a technique that argues that correcting a students behavior is most effective when done in a positive matter. Students are more motivated by the idea of reward or praise rather than being punished for what they do. Of course there still needs to be discipline in a classroom but if a behavior can be corrected in a positive manner than that is ideal. For example, if the students are given time to work on homework in class but Kylie is not focusing, correct Kylie's behavior by telling her that the more she gets done now the less she will have to do at home. This shows you are not angry with Kylie but you are giving her motivation by saying she won't have as much to do at home if she fixes her behavior. This creates a positive work environment for the students.
Positive Framing is accompanied by six rules that allow you to execute it correctly:
1. Live in the now!
Focus on moving forward classroom activities instead of dwelling on something a student may have done that can no longer be fixed. Move the lesson forward and work on what students can do to improve and succeed further on into the lesson.
2. Assume the best!
Don't just assume that every negative action that a student is involved in is on purpose. Sometimes it could just be the result of a mistake or a misunderstanding. Instead of immediately placing blame, keep the classroom environment positive by showing students that you know it was possible that what happened was an accident. For example, if students did not clean up their table before leaving for lunch say something like "it seems that Sara's group has forgotten to straighten up, lets go back and fix that before we leave." instead of "Sara's group has decided to leave their table dirty." This tactic shows that you trust that your students are trying to do the right thing.
3. Allow plausible anonymity!
If it is ever possible, work on correcting students without using their name or pointing them out. Your job is not to call out students for doing something wrong but rather to make the class work together to do things correctly. If you are giving a lesson and you hear a few students whispering, instead of calling out all their names and telling them to be quiet say something along the lines of "I'd like everyone to be paying attention and not talking right now." Calling out individual students could cause more of a distraction for the whole class.
4. Build momentum, and narrate the positive!
Momentum is what keeps your class activities moving forward. As the teacher you are the one who directs class momentum. You need to be able to use your words to push the students forward and keep them on task. draw attention to the good things that are happening in the classroom, the fact that everyone already has their writing journals open, rather than the bad things, a couple of kids are lagging behind. If you use words that keep the class moving forward the stragglers will work to catch up and the class won't be brought to a screeching halt.
Positive Framing is accompanied by six rules that allow you to execute it correctly:
1. Live in the now!
Focus on moving forward classroom activities instead of dwelling on something a student may have done that can no longer be fixed. Move the lesson forward and work on what students can do to improve and succeed further on into the lesson.
2. Assume the best!
Don't just assume that every negative action that a student is involved in is on purpose. Sometimes it could just be the result of a mistake or a misunderstanding. Instead of immediately placing blame, keep the classroom environment positive by showing students that you know it was possible that what happened was an accident. For example, if students did not clean up their table before leaving for lunch say something like "it seems that Sara's group has forgotten to straighten up, lets go back and fix that before we leave." instead of "Sara's group has decided to leave their table dirty." This tactic shows that you trust that your students are trying to do the right thing.
3. Allow plausible anonymity!
If it is ever possible, work on correcting students without using their name or pointing them out. Your job is not to call out students for doing something wrong but rather to make the class work together to do things correctly. If you are giving a lesson and you hear a few students whispering, instead of calling out all their names and telling them to be quiet say something along the lines of "I'd like everyone to be paying attention and not talking right now." Calling out individual students could cause more of a distraction for the whole class.
4. Build momentum, and narrate the positive!
Momentum is what keeps your class activities moving forward. As the teacher you are the one who directs class momentum. You need to be able to use your words to push the students forward and keep them on task. draw attention to the good things that are happening in the classroom, the fact that everyone already has their writing journals open, rather than the bad things, a couple of kids are lagging behind. If you use words that keep the class moving forward the stragglers will work to catch up and the class won't be brought to a screeching halt.
5. Challenge!
Students need to be challenged, and what would school be if you weren't challenging your students? Friendly competition is fine to include in the classroom and there are many ways to do it. There are plenty of educational games or contests that students can have fun playing and will help them learn. You can also use your words to motivate students to rise to a challenge. To motivate your students you could say something along the lines of, "You guys did well on your last spelling test but I know you can do better on the next one!"
6. Talk expectations and aspirations
Communicate with your students about their future goals in life and where they are going. When they are all doing well tell them that you think they look like scholars. This will build them up and give them confidence to work towards their goals. Allow your praise to help build their goals of doing something important in their life because that makes the class about something much bigger.
Students need to be challenged, and what would school be if you weren't challenging your students? Friendly competition is fine to include in the classroom and there are many ways to do it. There are plenty of educational games or contests that students can have fun playing and will help them learn. You can also use your words to motivate students to rise to a challenge. To motivate your students you could say something along the lines of, "You guys did well on your last spelling test but I know you can do better on the next one!"
6. Talk expectations and aspirations
Communicate with your students about their future goals in life and where they are going. When they are all doing well tell them that you think they look like scholars. This will build them up and give them confidence to work towards their goals. Allow your praise to help build their goals of doing something important in their life because that makes the class about something much bigger.
Why this is a working strategy
This strategy has a lot to do with how you are reinforcing the students' good behavior. Positive framing is like positive reinforcement in the fact that you praise or reward good behavior. It is shown that students learn better when given positive reinforcements so when this is included in your classroom it not only creates a better environment, it also helps the students learn. Talking to the students about their aspirations gives them an intrinsic reinforcer, it finds their internal motivation for themselves and drives it. Adding competition and games to the classroom is an extrinsic reinforcer for the students. It gives them an external reward (winning) to motivate them to do better. This technique really works with all different types of reinforcements and motivation and wouldn't you agree that with these driving forces students would be willing to work harder?
This strategy in my classroom
In my future classroom I want to use positive framing to help students see the best in themselves. I want to be able to give them positive reinforcement and help motivate them everyday. Of course there will be times when I can't put a positive frame around everything that happens in my classroom but I want to be able to create less of these situations by using this technique to create an environment that my students safe and happy in. I plan on taking the six rules that go along with this technique and putting every single one of them to use in my classroom. If I can use this technique to create a positive classroom where kids aren't afraid of getting yelled at for little things and can be themselves, I will be happy.