Positivity

I've been thinking a lot about being positive and it is something a friend and I have been discussing quite regularly. A positive attitude and outlook on the day makes a huge amount of difference in the classroom - trust me.

My first year of teaching the school district I was in sent me to a week long workshop called "Capturing Kids' Hearts" and I still use a lot of their teachings. I shake my kids' hands each day when they come in the door, I try not to call them out in a negative way, and I use please and thank you on a regular basis. Now don't get me wrong, there are days when negativity takes over and those days I leave work exhausted and often frustrated. Being negative takes way too much energy out of me - so why not be positive!

For those of you struggling with positivity in your classroom life, don't give up. It is work to refocus yourself on the positive way of doing things. It is something I still have to work on, especially if I am struggling with something - be it a lesson plan, a family issue, or just lack of sleep. Being positive does not mean letting the kids get away with stuff, or not raising your voice if necessary. Being positive means avoiding the word "don't" and "can't". Our kids hear those words all too often at home, why should we say them? Why not ask them to please stop talking, or "are you with me?". I find that calling a kid out seamlessly while giving instruction catches him/her off guard and often the issue is solved right then and there.
Example: "An independent clause can be a sentence on its own. Sonia you with me? And a dependent clause is not a complete thought."

Staying positive in the classroom not only helps me as a teacher (so yes it is a little selfish), it also helps the kids to feel valued. It tends to cut down on the need to repeat warnings and even if you have a kid or two who refuses to do any work, he or she is not a behavior problem. I know it sounds like a lazy teacher thing, but I'd prefer to have no behavior problems to every kid "working" while having behavior problems any day.

I try to extend my positive activities outside of the classroom as well. I mail home "good job" notes on a regular basis to kids who have made a positive change in class, or who have been working hard consistently. One of my kids told me today that her mom "freaked out" about it and she told her mom "Gee, Mom, calm down, it is just a note." I want parents to "freak out" when they get a good note in the mail - not many of them get those things. As I see it, it is our job to not only teach kids, but to help change their worlds.

Be positive, it'll change your life!

Thanks for changing the world one kid at a time. Enjoy your Friday.