08+Positive+Reinforcement

= **Positive Reinforcement** =


 * Text Support & Personal Experience:**
 * Lambert states, "Because teachers, not principals, teach all the school's students, it is vital that the principal's interactions with teachers enable the school to focus purposefully on student learning" (2003, p.43). He also states, "True development is bound to be stunted by incentive systems unless they attend to intrinsic as well as extrinsic motivation, such as by offering increased opportunities to learn" (2003, p.33). I think too often leaders forget to give those who are working with them or under them praise and recognition which causes those individuals to feel under valued. Those incentive systems can sometimes work, if they do not attend to the intrinsic side, they will not last and will just become superficial. One idea that I saw in a school once and really liked, was how the principal used the last 5-7 minutes of a staff meeting to have what he called a "rose ceremony." Instead of giving out roses, he handed out small school supplies or objects that were meaningful to the praise or story he wanted to share about an individual that he noticed who really made a difference that week. He would use that time to thank staff or commend them for something they did that really stood out and would hand them the object in front of everyone. It really appeared as though the staff appreciated that time and it was encouraging to hear about the different ways that others were making a difference, especially since you didn't really get to see everyone in the school all the time. - Monica


 * Positive reinforcement helps sustain leadership capacity over time. Lambert states in Figure 5.2 that it is essential for principals to "encourage individual and group initiative by providing school community members with multiple resources (e.g. time, money, personnel, access to outside networks)" (2003, p. 51). As a teacher, I recognize the importance of providing positive reinforcement to students, but often find people struggle to find meaningful ways to show appreciation. While we get general incentives like comp time for mandatory after school meetings, it is generally meaningless. Right now I have 13+ hours of comp time and no time to use it. Yet, I feel appreciated when the principal takes a few minutes to put a thank-you in my mailbox. Sometimes it is truly the small things we take time to do that are the most meaningful. ~Kate


 * Positive reinforcement is a great technique for our teachers to use to encourage learning. It is also a very important leadership skill. Positive reinforcement means to give positive and constructive feedbacks. Encouragement is always involved in positive reinforcement. Everyone wants to be appreciated. Everyone enjoys that he/she has achieved. In one of this week’s video clips the instructor embedded as the learning material, it shows how a high performance organization set up a celebration system to celebrate what the staff has achieved even if it’s a small step. ‘Encouraging the heart’ is a phrase used in that video clip which is very well said. ~Jingfang

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 * I think that positive reinforcement is something that everyone can do no matter what position you are in. Students can give students positive reinforcement, teachers can give students positive reinforcement, principals can give teachers and students positive reinforcement, etc. Once example that comes to mind, is when I was student teaching, the principal at the school I was at would randomly come and observe the teachers. She would then leave a positive note for a teacher in their mailbox. She wasn't the best principal from other issues in the school, but she did possess this skill. Positive reinforcement helps allow people to do their best, and gentle reminders of that are great to hear! In the "Set the Example" video under the content page, they say that "Encouraging the heart fuels people," which goes right into what I was saying! -Kelly
 * In my personal and professional roles as teacher, student, supervisor, parent, spouse, I have seen positive reinforcement is always one of the best motivators. Much more can be accomplished with positive reinforcement than with negativity. Bolman and Deal write "The job of the leader is support and empowerment.Support takes a variety of forms: showing concern for people, listening to their aspirations and goals, and communicating personal warmth and openness." (2003, p. 324). Positive reinforcement takes many forms, with verbal and nonverbal communications. ~Laura