14. The Power of Positive Attention

Send me a message! Remember: You're Awesome! Low-key you're awesome — and that's on period. ✨🌟💫 -you're awz.me The Power of Positive Attention (Spencer Kagan):Positive attention shapes behavior. Publicly praising a group/team that's on task (without giving points, just naming specific behaviors) redirects the whole class more effectively than quiet signals or correction.Kagan's classroom story: A teacher had all the technical jigsaw elements right but the room was chaotic (scolding, misbehavior). Simply drawing attention to the best-behaving group and stating specifically what was good about it turned the class around within one period.Effect is temporary but renewable — praise boosts on-task behavior for about 10 minutes; repeating it on a new group sustains and extends the improvement.Positive attention sets classroom norms — it tells students clearly what behaviors are valued, which creates security and clarity, especially in new routines like small-group work.Small groups aren't inherently chaotic — the difference is structure plus positive reinforcement of what's working, not just assigning group work and hoping for the best.Practical application (scripture study/reading activities): Model the activity, then reinforce visible positive work ("I love this work, look at the highlights"), then have students point out something positive in a teammate's work — takes under 30 seconds but has outsized impact.Takeaway: Consistently and specifically praising good behavior/work — rather than only correcting bad behavior — is a simple, high-leverage classroom management tool.