10 Research-Backed Ways to Find the Positive in Your Students

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Show Notes:

We all know that focusing on negativity can leave us feeling drained and discouraged, and it’s no different for children. As adults, when we dwell on what’s going wrong, it’s easy to slip into a slump, but imagine how this affects students. That’s why it’s so important for teachers to focus on the positive aspects of their students in order to foster an environment where strengths and successes are celebrated.

I get it—it's easy to become fixated on what your students aren't doing right, especially with everything else you have to juggle. However, by intentionally shifting your focus to the positive, you'll start to see your students in a completely new light. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 10 simple, yet powerful ways to highlight the positive in your students and shift the energy in your classroom.

These strategies not only help improve the mood in your classroom, but they’re also backed by research. Studies show that positivity strengthens relationships, encourages student growth, and helps them meet, and even exceed, the expectations teachers set for them. Plus, positive reinforcement is one of the most effective tools for improving classroom behavior and boosting academic achievement.

By making positivity a regular part of your teaching practice, you’re not just enhancing student outcomes. You’re also showing your students that you believe in them and that they’re capable of great things. These 10 practical strategies will help you build a classroom culture where strengths are celebrated and growth is always encouraged. Start the new year by reinforcing the power of positivity to improve your classroom dynamic and set your students up for success!

PS: If you'd like access to The New Year Reset Bundle that I mentioned in this episode, which will help you reteach classroom routines after winter break, join us in The Classroom Management Club!

Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

• 10 powerful ways to find the positive in your students that help to enhance student learning and student behaviors
• Research-based evidence that supports the importance of focusing on the positive and how to use this in your classroom
• Why you’re not ignoring the challenges, but instead focusing on building a classroom culture based on strengths and successes
• The benefits of incorporating positivity in the classroom, both academically and behaviorally

These studies reinforce the importance of maintaining a positive focus in educational settings to enhance student outcomes:

• “How to Use Positive Reinforcement in the Classroom”
• “5 Positive Reinforcement Activities to Use in the Classroom”
• “The Effects of Positive Reinforcement on Non-Compliant Behavior”
• “Positive Behaviour Support: Reinforcement”
• “Supporting Students With Disabilities With Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in the Classroom: Lessons Learned From Research and Practice"
• "Evidence-Based Classroom Behaviour Management Strategies"
• "Positive Reinforcement Strategies in the Elementary Classroom"
• "Positive Reinforcement and Its Effect on Students' Classroom Behavior and Classroom Work-Related Values"

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Free Masterclass - Your 5-Step Classroom Management Reset
• Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms
• Lung Cancer Free: One Couple’s Journey Through a “Lungs in a Box” Double Lung Transplant.
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• How Gratitude Positively Impacts Learning: 7 Thanksgiving Activities that Teach Gratitude
• Ultimate Student Engagement: 5 Positive, Easy, & Creative Ways to Get & Keep Your Students’ Attention
• 10 Ways to Uplift & Inspire Your Students this Thanksgiving Season

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