Quote from the Book, The Superior Educator
A Calm and Assertive Approach to Classroom Management and Large Group Motivation, Copyright © November 20^th, 2008, Stephen T. McClard

On the flip side, by creating a negatively charged atmosphere, you create the same feelings and expectations among your students.  This situation will lead to failure avoidance and can slow a student’s momentum to a standstill.  Constantly yelling, creating more rules to follow, pointing out students’ flaws, and parading your negative perceptions around will only create an atmosphere of pessimism and give the students a reason to change direction away from where you want them to head. 

You may be thinking that your classroom is so out of control that nothing will help.  You may say that I have no clue when it comes to the kids in your classroom.  That may or may not be true.  I have taught in some tough situations and know first hand the fear that is generated by a harsh environment.  The fact remains that you will succeed or fail by the choices you make, so make the best choices available.  Creating a negative atmosphere can never help your unique situation, no matter how bad it is.

When I taught in southeast Missouri, I was in a school district that had a rough moral climate.  I was in charge of ISS (in school suspension) for two hours a day with the worst of the worst.  The kids in the room would intentionally serve out their time without bathing just to drive the supervisors crazy.  To make matters worse, the room did not have a window.  I normally sat my chair in the hall and looked into the room from there. 

My first year as ISS supervisor was rough but improved greatly over the next two years.  I was very negative and sour the first year, and I let it show to the students.  I noticed there were days when I came in the room smiling from some great thing that had happened in my class the hour before, and the students in ISS responded with a more positive tone.  Those days brought far less discipline issues to my attention.  I was more inclined to joke with the kids and be less serious on those days.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that if I was like this everyday, I would have a better time making it through to the second bell.  I decided at this point to do an experiment.  I came in one day very happy and tried to joke around with the kids as much as possible.  I used humor, positive reinforcement in my reactions, and genuinely tried to find out what these kids were up to outside the walls of the school. 

I learned more from my positive conversations in that room than I ever would have by being negative.  We discussed their families, friends, and interests in a meaningful way.  I used this information to lead the conversation toward their actions at school and their chances of success later in life.  I made a point to get on the positive side of these students, and ISS became a place of personal growth for all of us.

When students come to crossroads in their lives, they have the following options:  move ahead, go back, turn right or turn left to another activity, or simply stand still.  By showing your positive optimism, you can help them continue forward.  By being a negative pessimist, you give your students an option to change direction: move backwards or just stand still.  If you want them to move forward with you, there is only one thing you can do:  be positive and constantly optimistic.  Your positive energy will show the way and might even reveal the hidden direction—up.