Chapter 3: The Truth About Ability and Accomplishment
Think about some of the most common phrases you use when your praising your students...
For your comment this week, list a few of these praises and reflect on whether your are praising their intelligence/ability or their effort.
Open the following Google Doc: Click here. Choose one or two statements and identify what the hidden message is. You can comment right in the document, the entire group will work within the google doc so more then one answer for a statement is great! (you can highlight your answer in a different color if you choose too and sign your name)
For your comment this week, list a few of these praises and reflect on whether your are praising their intelligence/ability or their effort.
Open the following Google Doc: Click here. Choose one or two statements and identify what the hidden message is. You can comment right in the document, the entire group will work within the google doc so more then one answer for a statement is great! (you can highlight your answer in a different color if you choose too and sign your name)
I try to praise my students based on the effort they put into their work rather than their intelligence. As a Special Education Teacher I find that finding the strategy that works for them is just as important as praising them on their effort they put into an assignment. I may say something along the lines of:
ReplyDelete" I know that this material doesn't come easy to you. I'm really excited to see you thought of several ways to do it and found the one that worked the best for you"
" Everyone learns in different ways. We will work together to see what your interests are and how we incorporate them into making this new material stick"
Great examples to share, these are very powerful for students!
DeleteThis question made me pause. I actually had to put my answer on hold and pay attention to my comments. What I realize is that I don’t offer a lot of praise. My comments with students generally take place in the hallway, and are intended to build relationships. They generally don’t relate to academic accomplishment (unless you count “bring your books,” “don’t forget your spiral notebook,” “make sure you have a pencil,” etc.). I did notice that I do jokingly issue challenges to them (“Students do not get 100% on my tests. 99% fine, but not 100%. That would mean you are as smart as me, and you are NOT!”). I do encourage effort, particularly in those that I know doubt themselves and/or are working hard. I guess I try to make sure that the students who perceive themselves as smart don’t get to full of themselves, and to help the ones who don’t understand that they can accomplish things if they work hard.
ReplyDeleteThe kids respond to you and learn in your class... so you are definitely doing something right. :)
DeleteGreat Mike! I think both types of comments are important! Especially those that help to build relationships.
DeleteOnce I read this, I knew that this was an area I need to work on. When I am commenting on a student's paper, I try to be really specific about what they did well -"effective word choice" or "good development of main idea." I think these comments could cover both ability and effort depending on what the child usually produces. When I comment or praise a student aloud during class, I tend to be very general like, "exactly!" or "good job!" Typically the class period flies by and I think I am always worried about fitting the whole lesson in. In the future, I will try to be more aware of praising effort as much as final product...
ReplyDeleteI agree Kim, i felt the same way and thought back to how often i say Great Job, even to my own daughter. This definitely opened my eyes!
DeleteAs a counselor I meet with students for all different reasons, but one thing I try and do for all my kids is to empower them and to allow them to see things in a different way. With that said, if someone comes in with an issue I try and lead them to look at things in a way where the situation can add value. I think that this shows kids that if they can gain any knowledge or experience then they will learn more about themselves and others. I always tell kids to think about what they want and what they like because the world is full of opportunity and they are able to take full advantage. I usually point out things that I notice about them like their hard work ethic or sassiness! All these things can open doors for them in life and I really want them to see that. Trina DiVincenzo
ReplyDeleteI praise my students with; "That's great", "Nice job", "Yes, you got it!", "This was really difficult and you really have a good handle on it", "Love that answer, but what if we look at it this way..." I feel like I'm praising effort. As a special Education teacher half the time I'm only focused on their effort. I'm constantly frontloading information that when they show effort I'm jumping on it! I try very hard to let my students know that my room is a safe environment.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I use praise when responding to my students such as good job. I also try to expand on a response to have a class discussion. My comments praise both intelligence and effort. This chapter definitely makes me more aware of the praise I use while teaching and will try to use comments that praise more for effort than intelligence.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it comes from working with students with special needs or working with young children, but for the most part I try to give feedback related to effort rather than intelligence ("I like the way you worked through that problem", "you didn't give up on sounding that word out, I knew you could do it!") or continued encouragement along the way ("this is a really tough concept, keep working, you will get there") or even if they didn't succeed ("you are getting closer to saying that sound correctly. I'm proud of your hard work").
ReplyDeleteI appreciate this because it definitely made me more aware of the praise that I give, the reason why I give it, and when I give it. I really feel that so many of my students need praise, as a special ed teacher. They need confidence, they need to feel validated and like they belong. I often give praise with little motivational sayings "You know what I like about that 'Joe'? You did what was right... not what was easy. Fantastic." I like to praise the kids in a way that they see what I see. "Last test you had an 70%, this time you got a 75%. That hard work is paying off!".
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Claire. I try my best to build confidence within my students. What seems to be a small accomplishment for some is very challenging for others. I know for the students i work with they cling on their teachers approval to keep them
ReplyDeleteMotivated and aspired.
I agree too! A little personal statement can go such a long way!
DeleteI agree too! A little personal statement can go such a long way!
DeleteGreat job everyone on the Google Doc on Hidden Messages. Hopefully it helped you to see a difference and be more mindful of what you say!
ReplyDeleteI guess I am usually saying "you are on the right track" or "you are the best (looking for a giggle because students love this phrase)" or "you got it." These phrases make the students sometimes feel they are part of a game or a group interaction and they start to feel invigorated and they open up much more than they would without praise of any sort or without any interaction.
ReplyDeleteI guess some of the phrases are praising their intelligence and you are on the right track would be praising their effort... Any effort is not a waste in my class
I had to pay attention to my words, before I could really answer this question. Praise is important whether it be for a student’s ability or for the effort. Other reasons I try to give praise is to build a trusting relationship with my students or when I catch them doing good deeds for others. Mostly while in the classroom I find myself usually praising their intelligence/ability more than their effort. I guess that is because of my high expectations in the classroom, that students will follow instructions and be successful while doing an activity. I want them to realize that being successful and gaining experience will allow them to become more confident, and believe in themselves.
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ReplyDelete