Have you heard the common adage, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Do you think this applies to teachers too? When substitute teachers were asked this question, the majority of substitute teachers that participated said that teachers should follow this oft-heard wisdom.
This doesn’t mean, however, you can’t correct a student’s behavior.
If you do need to correct a student’s behavior, be very careful how you go about it. Make sure that your emotions are not dictating how you handle the situation.
The ideal ratio to is eight positive interactions with every one corrective interaction you have with a student.
For those who strive to maintain this ratio: Do you think it has made a difference in the way you manage behavior? Do students respond better to you?