Major Concept Summary: Praise

Summary

Educational praise refers to the practice of praising students for their achievements, efforts, and progress in learning. Research has shown that praise can have a positive impact on students' motivation, self-esteem, and academic performance. However, it is important to give specific and meaningful praise that focuses on the student's efforts and strategies, rather than just their ability or intelligence. Additionally, it is important to use a balance of praise and constructive feedback to help students set goals and improve their learning. Constructive feedback focuses on what a student can improve on, while praise focuses on what the student did well.

For example, instead of saying "You're so smart," a teacher might say "I can tell you worked hard on this assignment. Your organization and use of evidence in your essay is impressive." This type of praise focuses on the student's specific actions and strategies and encourages them to continue using those methods in the future.

Research has shown that effective praise can also help to build student self-confidence, which can lead to a more positive attitude towards learning and better academic performance. It is therefore important for teachers to use praise effectively and regularly in the classroom to encourage students to achieve their full potential. It's also worth noting that praise can be given in various forms, it could be verbal, written, non-verbal, through rewards and incentives, or even through digital means. Teachers should be creative and flexible in their praise and find the best way to reach each student.

 ^{Below, are some steps of how to give effective praise from Collete Bennett, ThoughtCo, Steps to Effective Praise}

 ^{1. Notice the effort by the student(s).}

 ^{2. Make eye contact with the student(s).}

 ^{3. Smile. Be sincere and enthusiastic.}

 ^{4. Prepare for praise by deciding what to say that is specific to the task.}

 ^{5. Describe the behavior you want to reinforce by telling how you feel about it with specific comments like, "Your thoughts were well organized in this essay."} 

^{Effective praise can provide students with the kind of positive reinforcement that builds on success, motivates them to learn, and increases their class participation.}

How to Effectively Use Prise in the Classroom

Quiz Questions

1. Select all that apply: What are the benefits of giving specific and meaningful praise to students in the classroom?

1. a) Increases motivation
2. b) Increases self-esteem
3. c) Improves academic performance
4. d) Improves social intellect

2. When giving praise, it is most effective to focus on a student's:

1. a) Intelligence
2. b) Ability
3. c) Effort and Strategies
4. d) Appearance

1. 3. What is the difference between constructive feedback and praise in terms of their impact on student learning?

   a) Constructive feedback focuses on what a student did well, while praise focuses on what a student can improve upon

   b) Constructive feedback focuses on what a student can improve upon, while praise focuses on what a student did well

   c) Constructive feedback and praise both focus on what a student can improve upon

2. d) Constructive feedback and praise both focus on what a student did well