When researching a psychologist I wanted to find something that I related to as well as a relation to classroom management. Skinner was the psychologist who was found to create the Operant Conditioning Theory. This theory was designed to shape behavior by Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, and Punishment. Positive Reinforcement is a type of shaping behavior where there is a stimulus given and a behavior increase. For example if Susie is supposed to be reading her book during reading time, and she is doing what she is told then words of encouragement or praise for doing the right thing increases her behavior. Negative Reinforcement is a type of shaping were there is a stimulus removed in order to increase behavior. Negative Reinforcement examples would look like a teachers complaining about students not picking up toys in the toy area, the students start cleaning up their toys to make the complaining stop. Now when they are told to clean up they normally do to avoid the complaining. The other side of the Operant Conditioning Approach is Punishment, Positive and Negative Punishment both results in behavior being decreased. I believe this relates to the classroom more than a lot of things. In my classroom I want students to be praised for doing the right thing, I believe if you create a great relationship and support the student then you can trust that they will do the right thing when asked. Setting expectations with your students is a vital thing for not only you, but the student as well. The students creating the expectations know what is expected of them at all times. Having a positive classroom environment is key for not only you as a teacher but for student’s growth in the classroom as well. I believe this approach works best for me because this is exactly how I want to run my classroom in the future.
Adam EDU 