The Decisive Element ― Unleashing Praise and Positivity in Schools

Teacher and child psychologist Haim Ginott came to the 'frightening conclusion' that it was he, as the teacher, who was the decisive element in the classroom: 'It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous.' The default setting in British education seems to be 'gloom'. Schools are under relentless pressure and the data-driven league table culture means that we often forgetabout the humans we work wil. So what can teachers do to make pupils' school lives more joyous? Toward, Malton and Henley believe that the answer lies in harnessing the tools of praise and positivity so that the school setting becomes an environment in which all can thrive - from pupils to cleaners, and from head teacher to teaching assistants.