Nurtured Heart Approach
The nurtured heart approach is one in which the teacher constantly gives positive reinforcement to the student, while neglecting to recognize misbehaviors on a consistent basis.
This approach is defined by the giving of energy. When energy is given to a particular action, that action is recognized and could be remembered and continue to grow. When energy is not given to an action, that action could be forgotten and will eventually fade.
There are three key principles to the nurtured heart approach:
1. Relentlessly pursue the positive - Create situations in which students have no choice but to succeed, and then verbally acknowledge and reward them for their success.
2. Be consistent - When boundaries are enforced, students feel free to explore, ask questions, and learn. It's important to be consistently firm in the expectations of the classroom.
3. Don't give any negative energy to anything - Behaviors such as rolling eyes, sighing, and scolding are not constructive in building up positive behaviors in students, because negative energy is released and given to a certain situation. If a negative event occurs, do not give negative energy to it; instead, reset it.
Reset is a mental break from a situation. When a student is misbehaving, the teacher should look at the student with a non-energetic (neither positive nor negative) expression and tone of voice, and say "reset." When that word is said to a student, the student should put his or head down and dis-engage from the class. After a period of time (usually between a few seconds and 1 minute), the teacher will energetically say "Welcome back, student," and the student will be invited to re-join the class.
There's so much more to the nurtured heart approach! Read more about it in the sub-tabs of the Nurtured Heart Approach, labeled "Further Explanation" and "Examples."
This approach is defined by the giving of energy. When energy is given to a particular action, that action is recognized and could be remembered and continue to grow. When energy is not given to an action, that action could be forgotten and will eventually fade.
There are three key principles to the nurtured heart approach:
1. Relentlessly pursue the positive - Create situations in which students have no choice but to succeed, and then verbally acknowledge and reward them for their success.
2. Be consistent - When boundaries are enforced, students feel free to explore, ask questions, and learn. It's important to be consistently firm in the expectations of the classroom.
3. Don't give any negative energy to anything - Behaviors such as rolling eyes, sighing, and scolding are not constructive in building up positive behaviors in students, because negative energy is released and given to a certain situation. If a negative event occurs, do not give negative energy to it; instead, reset it.
Reset is a mental break from a situation. When a student is misbehaving, the teacher should look at the student with a non-energetic (neither positive nor negative) expression and tone of voice, and say "reset." When that word is said to a student, the student should put his or head down and dis-engage from the class. After a period of time (usually between a few seconds and 1 minute), the teacher will energetically say "Welcome back, student," and the student will be invited to re-join the class.
There's so much more to the nurtured heart approach! Read more about it in the sub-tabs of the Nurtured Heart Approach, labeled "Further Explanation" and "Examples."
Information about the Nurtured Heart Approach was gleaned from Anne Starr, counselor at Western Middle School, implementer of Nurtured Heart Approach.