Mindset, Behaviors, and a Routine

January is a turning point for new and veteran teachers alike. For some, the end of a term brings new classes. For others, this is the point at which a lot of hard work really starts paying off.

What can make the difference is mindset--both the mindset you hold (i.e. it's going to get good!) and the mindset you project (i.e. you guys are going to be great!). One key ingredient that helps both these mindsets is praise.

While we've written in praise of praise before, we really can't praise the power of behavior-specific praise enough. Both research and experience tell us that it is more effective to build positive behaviors than to control negative student behavior (Strain & Sainato, 1987). However, some people have said that it is tough to give more praise:

• "I don't want it to feel fake."
• "Kids don't want to be called out."
• "I just don't know what to praise."

And research shows that especially by middle school, kids get good at knowing when praise is insincere. So how do we praise sincerely AND frequently?

It got us thinking about how can teachers can find it easier to give behavior-specific praise. Our thought, and the thought of educators like Todd Finley, is to make it part of a routine. You might use a clipboard with a praise checklist to keep track of who is praised and how often, but how do you know what to praise?

This is where you, the teacher expert in the room, come in: what behaviors do you value? If you want students to enter or transition around the room quietly, consider putting quiet movement on your checklist for the week. If you want students to raise their hands to share, you might put that on your checklist for the week. And as for academics:

"Jim Wright, of Intervention Central, lists several academic dispositions that can be reinforced through praise, including effort, accuracy, fluency, goal-setting, and meeting an external standard. As an example, Wright describes how to encourage effort: “You wrote nonstop through the entire writing period. I appreciate your hard work.”

If you are looking for a planning sheet, this resource is great for developing your initial plan for behavior specific praise. TLI has made a template that you can choose to copy and adapt for this purpose. If you want help designing your own behavior checklist (or adapting something you currently use in the classroom to include praise), contact us!