Understanding psychology basics can help teachers to be more confident, more effective, and to increase student success.
Psychology and education are closely related. Psychology is the study of the mind and human behavior. This knowledge lies at the core of everything we do as educators, and can have a significant impact in the classroom and beyond.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of psychology for educators, 4 key concepts to know, and easy ways teachers can learn more.
Understanding psychology basics: benefits for educators
When educators understand how the mind works and influences behavior, we can:
- Create a nurturing classroom environment that’s ideal for learning
- Improve students’ emotional regulation and behavior
- Reduce distractions and gain more learning time
- Increase student engagement in lessons
- Identify students who may need help from a mental health professional
- Build a school community where everyone thrives (including school staff and families)
4 Psychology concepts that can make or break learning
Understanding some key psychology concepts can be eye-opening and help us recognize why our students behave and respond as they do. Armed with that knowledge, we can apply tools and strategies that boost learning and reduce stress for everyone.
Plus, learning psychology basics provides insights we can use to better relate to everyone around us (not only students).
Here are a few examples.
1. Attachment theory
Attachment theory is a framework that helps us understand the importance of healthy relationships and how to nurture them. Humans begin forming relationships in early childhood to establish a safe and secure base from which to explore and become independent.
Needless to say, children’s relationships with their teachers are critical to their learning and development. Understanding attachment theory and applying the concept in the classroom helps teachers to build rapport, grow trust, and create an environment where our students feel supported and ready to learn.
Ideas for building stronger relationships in the classroom:
- 2 for 20. Spend 2 minutes a day for 20 days talking to students about something other than schoolwork. Give specific praise to spark a conversation, ask about weekend plans, or talk about their favorite music or sports team.
- Circle time & morning meetings. Giving students the opportunity to express themselves in a safe and controlled setting helps them bond with us and with one another, as well as building social skills and teamwork they need to succeed in school and beyond.
- Journaling. Provide prompts that encourage students to open up about their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. Sharing their inner experiences helps students to build connections.
2. “Maslow before Bloom”
Abraham Maslow described the hierarchy of basic human needs, and the fact that foundational needs must be met before we can address higher-level needs. Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy explains the sequence of skills needed for cognitive learning. So the idea “Maslow Before Bloom” means that students’ basic needs, including food and safety, must be met before they can begin to tackle the simplest learning objective.
Understanding that concept can shed light on some of our biggest challenges in education and help us implement effective solutions.
Ideas for supporting students’ basic needs at school:
- Nutrition. Hungry kids can’t learn, so provide breakfast and healthy snacks whenever possible to those who may need them.
- Hygiene. Make sure students have access to soap and water, tissues, and feminine hygiene supplies to prevent distractions and make them comfortable.
- Safety. Our districts invest a great deal in school safety policies and practices. But kids are still worried. So make a point of talking about safety to help ease their concerns.
Learn more: Managing Fear: How to Talk to Kids About Violence
3. Functions of behavior
Every human behavior has a motivation behind it. In fact, there are 4 types of motivators that serve as the “functions of behavior.”
When our students behave inappropriately at school, identifying the motivator can help us respond more effectively. When we get the “why,” we can change undesirable behaviors by teaching replacement behaviors to get what they need in a more acceptable way.
Ideas for managing behaviors in the classroom:
- When a student is trying to avoid an overwhelming task, break it down into smaller tasks that they can manage.
- When a student is acting out to get attention, create opportunities for appropriate and positive attention.
- To stop a distracting behavior that’s providing sensory stimulation, provide tools or give movement breaks.
Learn more: Ask about our live PD presentation, “Practical Ideas to Address Emotions and Behavior,” where we explore the 4 Functions of Behavior.
4. Reinforcement
The concept of reinforcement from behavioral psychology is incredibly useful for us in education. In simple terms, reinforcement means shaping behavior using positive and/or negative consequences.
Reinforcement happens whether or not we are intentionally doing it. In the example above where a student is acting out because they want attention, we reinforce that behavior when we shout at them to stop. Because the student received the attention they crave, they are likely to continue the behavior.
However, when we respond more positively and learn to use reinforcement proactively, we can significantly improve student behavior.
Ideas for shaping behavior with reinforcement:
- Start with awareness. Pay careful attention to the way we are responding to students’ behavior in the classroom. We may notice subtle ways that we are reinforcing negative behavior.
- Be positive. Not only is positive reinforcement proven to be more effective in reducing unwanted behaviors and increasing desired ones, but it also improves students’ confidence and self-esteem.
- Catch them being good. When students act appropriately and positively, use verbal praise, non-verbal gestures, privileges, and tangible rewards to encourage them to keep it up.
Easy ways for teachers to learn psychology basics
Every teacher doesn’t need a degree in educational psychology to improve their teaching skills and help students succeed. We can reap huge rewards by learning specific insights that address our daily challenges and tactics to use in the classroom.
As part of Thrive’s mission to connect the dots between mental health and academic success, we provide a variety of resources to help school staff get grounded in psychology basics and master game-changing classroom strategies. There’s something to meet the needs of every educator and school district.
Free resources
We love sharing our expertise in quick, easy-to-consume formats for busy educators. Visit our resource center for downloadable tip sheets, articles, and video content that you can share with colleagues.
Also, sign up for our monthly newsletter to get actionable tips and advice by email.
Asynchronous learning
Thrive offers a wealth of online, asynchronous video presentations for teachers, paraprofessionals, child study team, and school administrators. Check out our catalog.
We also have Parent Academy and Student Academy content that you can share with your school community.
Group training for school staff
Want to raise your entire staff’s knowledge and capabilities quickly? Ask about our half-day and full-day presentation: Positive Behavior: Understanding & Responding to Emotions.
Mental Health Training, Coaching and Certification program
Empower your team to manage classroom behavior, maximize student mental health, and boost academic performance. Our blended-learning program includes:
- Asynchronous presentations covering topics like suicide risk assessment, trauma informed care, anxiety, depression, and school refusal.
- Monthly coaching sessions in real time, facilitated by experienced professionals for ongoing dialogue, guidance, and advice.
- Upon completion of the program, your staff members are awarded a School Mental Wellness Specialist certificate.
