Positive Reinforcement

I am currently an intern, working with 3rd graders. One student in particular does not respond well to correction and even becomes combative at times. By changing my approach and acknowledging him specifically each time he did something well and acknowledging his classmates as they were doing something good, I was able to get him to participate more than he has. I have found that, with younger students specifically, positive reinforcement goes a long way and sometimes it is just a matter of examining our own approach.