Rates of Teachers' Verbal Approval and Disapproval

Abstract

Existing rates of teacher approval and disapproval were assessed in 35 classrooms (grades K-4, 9, 12) during various activities. Teachers'mean rates of both approval and disapproval were highest in first grade and lower in upper grades, with the partial exception of the ninth. These data lend certain generality to those reported by White (1975), but there are also substantial differences between the two data sets. White's conclusions-that disapproval predominated after grade 2 and may account for disillusionment of children in grades thereafter-are questioned. Transition was the only activity in which disapprovals exceeded approvals. Approval and disapproval rates were not related to teachers' ages, years of experience, or recency of training. One implication is that teacher training should focus more on skill at verbal approval, particularly in classroom management, and that such training should be conducted by behavior analysts in classrooms.