Making Verbal Praise More Effective in the Classroom
Verbal praise is a powerful tool for motivating students, building confidence, and encouraging positive behavior. However, not all praise is equally effective. The key is to make it specific, meaningful, and sincere.
1. Be Specific
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Problem with general praise: “Good job” or “Well done” is vague. Students may not know what they did well.
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Effective approach: Praise the specific effort or behavior.
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Example: “I really like how you explained each step of your solution clearly.”
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Example: “You stayed focused on the experiment even when it was challenging. Excellent perseverance!”
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2. Focus on Effort, Strategy, and Progress
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Praise effort and learning strategies, not just outcomes.
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Encourages a growth mindset: students understand that effort leads to improvement.
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Examples:
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“You worked really hard on your drawing, and it shows in the details.”
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“I like how you tried different ways to solve the problem until you found the answer.”
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3. Be Sincere and Genuine
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Students can detect insincere praise, which may be demotivating.
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Ensure your words match your observations and feelings.
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Example: Instead of saying “Great work” every time, highlight real achievements.
4. Praise Immediately
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Give praise as close as possible to the behavior you want to reinforce.
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Immediate praise strengthens the connection between action and recognition.
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Example: “I noticed you helped your classmate just now—that was very kind!”
5. Encourage Self-Reflection
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Combine praise with questions that prompt reflection.
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Helps students understand why their effort or behavior was effective.
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Examples:
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“What strategy helped you solve that problem?”
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“How did your approach make your project successful?”
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6. Avoid Comparing Students
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Praise should focus on individual improvement, not competition.
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Comparing students can lead to resentment or anxiety.
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Example: “You have improved a lot in reading this month” instead of “You read better than John.”
7. Vary Your Praise
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Use different forms of verbal praise:
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Positive comments
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Asking peers to acknowledge good work
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Highlighting progress in group discussions
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