Re: cancer issues --> I never know either how to react, how to comfort people. I think I've already mentioned it here once, but this particular topic has always made me very squeamish and frightened. I've had nightmares about it, way more frightening than monsters and endless falls and other "traditional" nightmares. So I just don't know how to react, other than being scared myself.
But, well... hang on?
Re: positive reinforcement --> Yeah, in theory, it's great, and I tried to go with that for the past few years. Let's just say the results weren't as great as they were made out to be.
Probably it works way better with smaller groups, but not with 27 to 30 12- or 13-year-old kids who'd like to be anywhere but at school. And some of them are clearly 'out to get you' (they're not particularly discreet about it; where I work, it's not seldom to see a whole class act as one on a particular day to 'make the Music teacher cry' or whatever.)
To be fair, I *use* positive reinforcement, and will go on doing so. I always congratulate my pupils when they found the right answer, and it doesn't matter if the kid is a 'good pupil' or the one who I had to punish not two minutes ago. I want them to know that punishment isn't against them as people, and that if they do something nice, then they get nice things in turn. I also use songs in class, I bring movies, things that are beyond the dull old dialogue in the English book. But using only positive reinforcement is, unfortunately, not enough. If we don't regularly punish kids who cause ruckus in the class, then they just cause more and more, no matter how many times they get rewards for good things. (Also, it's as if whatever comes from the teacher is necessarily bad. I mean, seriously, when I bring a movie to class, I'd like to hear something else than "pffff, it's in English, it sucks". Yeah, I teach English, how illogical and ill-advised of me to bring English-dubbed movies. :roll
((Sidenote of the day, I'm still amazed that almost one month into dealing with annoying classes in one of the most difficult schools in town, I haven't given in to bingeing. But then, I also bike to and from school, which probably helps in calming my nerves *before* hitting home and kitchen table?))