![]() Imagine Shayna bouncing through the school doors in the morning. With our words, we convey our assumptions and expectations about children, which, in turn, influence children’s assumptions and expectations about themselves. Suppose a principal says to an all-school gathering, “When everyone is quiet, we’ll start our school pledge,” or a lunch teacher says to a class entering the lunchroom, “You can look at our poster to remind yourselves what to do when you finish eating.” These words convey belief that children want to cooperate, listen, and do good work, while also giving them information about how they can follow through on those good intentions. Adults can use positive language to help children build that self-perception. To choose positive behaviors, children need to see themselves as capable individuals and responsible community members. The following three essentials offer a good starting place. Any enhancements you make in your language will do much to help children choose positive behaviors. Learning to use positive language with children takes time. To guide children toward choosing and maintaining positive behaviors, school adults need to carefully choose the words and tone of voice we use when speaking to them. Positive adult language is the professional use of words and tone of voice to enable students to learn in an engaged, active way. An overall tone of safety and caring is largely set by the adults’ positive language-what they say and how they say it. In scenes like these, it’s easy to see-and hear-that the adults at this school care about and know the students, believe in them, and see discipline as being about enabling children to choose positive behaviors. I noticed that you remembered to walk quietly and safely in the hall the way we practiced.” A moment later, the school counselor firmly and respectfully says, “Nolan, remember, friendly words,” when Nolan begins to speak harshly to another student. Just then a teacher comments to a student at his classroom door, “Good morning, Aliya. “Hello, Tasha! How’s your new baby brother?” the principal says as she greets a student in the hallway during morning arrival. ApCategories: Getting Started / Positive Language / Teacher Language ![]()
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