Positive

Reinforcement
- Discuss different ways of adapting positive
reinforcement in the early childhood classroom.
How do reinforcements work? How do you use
them? Provide examples.

Definition

positive reinforcement is a stimulus provided by teachers

to students to encourage them to become better at
learning, or they can maintain their learning achievements.
 Why

In the teaching process, we as

teachers usually provide positive
stimuli to students in the form of
praise for what they have done. In
other cases, we can also provide
positive stimuli in the form of
rewards s for students who have
done something well. By giving such
a gift or praise, students are
expected to be motivated to
 Advantage

First of all, Positive reinforcement is the key to effectively promote certain behaviors.
However, positive reinforcement was introduced by Skinner according to the theory of
operant conditioning. It is a form of learning whereby the contingency between a specific
behavior and a desirable consequence help increase the likelihood of the behavior
recurring.
1- The reason positive reinforcement is important in the classroom is that it can be used to
effectively change student behavior and when positive reinforcement is used, students are more
motivated.

2- One important advantage of using positive reinforcement is that students actively enjoy being
present and learning in the classroom.

3- It is important to use positive reinforcement in the classroom because a student who

experiences positive reinforcement often shows a greater willingness to demonstrate positive
 Examples

•Praise and nonverbal communication (e.g., smile, nod, thumbs up)

•Social attention (e.g., a conversation, special time with the teacher or a peer)

•Tangibles such as stickers, new pencils or washable tattoos

•Activities or privileges such as playing a game, sitting in a special place in the class,
drawing, writing, coloring, going to recess or gym early, having extra computer time

•Secondary positive reinforcements (such as checkmarks, tokens or money) for students

to accumulate in order to acquire tangibles or be allowed to participate in special
activities.