Overcome Negative Bias

Research indicates that our brain is wired to favor negativity. This would mean in our world of the classroom that our students will respond to negative information more quickly than positive information. Really?

Does that mean when working with classroom management I need to be more negative toward the student in order for them to respond correctly? Does that mean the more negative my behavior the more positive their behavior?

I think not.

Our experts in Social Emotional Learning and Whole Child Education provide us with a better method of over coming the brain's natural wiring. In a ratio of 5 positives to each negative (or 3:1 depending on the researcher) we make sure there is as much brain engaging activities in our classrooms as possible. (Engaging is not necessarily completing a worksheet - See Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites).

In a world filled with "no", "stop", "don't" it is hard to change our teacher language to say the same things in positive ways (Responsive Classroom's Teacher Language).  In the book, Power of Our Words, we are reminded that "Language—our words, tone of voice, and pacing— is one of the most powerful tools available to teachers. It permeates every aspect of teaching and learning. We cannot engage children in learning, welcome a student into the room, or handle a classroom conflict without using words."


Two of my favorite YouTube videos which address the power of words should be watched to remind us what we need to be doing; and should be shared with our colleagues and students to effectively change the negative wording which occurs when we move into "neutral".

1. "Change Your Words, Change Your World" 

2. "Change Your Words, Change Your World 2 - the effective use" 

These are just two examples we can be using in making simple changes of wording which will help us ensure that we are entering the classroom each day ready to "Make A Difference."  To pass that ability of making a difference on to each of our students might just change the world.