The Magic of 4:1 Positive Feedback in the Classroom

Last year I was a New Teacher facilitator for the electives teachers in our district. I didn't do much except email them when the meetings were and planned some ice breakers and reflection activities. But I got to go to all the trainings with them and honestly I think I got more out of them than they did. (As a first year teacher it's hard to be presented with a ton of information when you're already so overwhelmed.)

The best take away I got? Use a 4:1 ratio for positive to negative in classroom management.

Now, I had heard that before. In my first year of teaching even, but what really made it stick was that the PBIS coach told it didn't mean for each student but the class overall.

Mind blown!

Here I was thinking I had to say 4 nice things to that kid rolling under a table before I could correct him.

Now I simply say muy bien or gracias to four students doing the right thing before I correct little Johnny for being under the table. Usually by the time I've recognized 4 students for being in their seats criss-cross and eyes o me, Little Johnny has made it back to his carpet square. Then I say thank you to him (or just smile, nod, or give a thumbs up) and we move on.

You don't even have to compliment or thank the kiddos doing the right thing but just describe what they're doing. Emily se está sentando con las piernas cruzadas. Henry tiene la boca cerrada y está listo de aprender.  It helps that in K-2 we start class with piernas cruzadas, bocas cerradas, manos dobladas, y los ojos en la maestra. That way I can refer to these expectations later without switching to English.

It has really upped the positivity in my room, my students are much more likely to be on task, and we are all staying in the target language.

Here's a link for more information - https://www.pbisworld.com/tier-1/positive-praise/
And here https://vkc.mc.vanderbilt.edu/assets/files/resources/psibehaviorspecpraise.pdf 


#HighlightReal - This has HELPED in my rowdy fifth grade classes but it has not completely solved the problem. If there was a solution then me, the other 5 Special Area teachers, the Behavior Coach, and/or their classroom teachers would have figured it out by now. Some groups of kids when together are harder than others.