Cultivating a Positive Environment for Students This article is
adapted from Larry Ferlazzo's new book, Self-Driven Learning:
Teaching Strategies For Student Motivation. Just how important
are positive emotions in the learning process? Studies show that
these feelings can enhance students’ attention and higher-order
thinking skills, as well as encouraging perseverance. But here's
the thing. We all have those days when students (sometimes many
students) enter our classrooms without a positive frame of mind.
The negativity often has nothing to do with us or with
school—troubles with family, friends, romantic connections, or
other outside forces can prey on students' minds. And
unfortunately, as most teachers know, negativity (just like
self-control and discipline) can be contagious. What does that
mean for us as teachers? The Challenge of 'Bad Emotions' First,
let's stare down the challenge. As Florida State University
psychology professor Roy Baumeister points out, extensive
research finds that "bad emotions .