ARTICLE: How to Use Praise Effectively

Most teachers regularly use praise in their classrooms. However, Barbara Blackburn cautions, students can interpret praise positively or negatively.

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The Six Characteristics of Effective Praise

By Barbara R. Blackburn

Most teachers regularly use praise in their classrooms. However, students can interpret praise positively or negatively. Let’s look at six characteristics of effective praise, using a simple acronym:

1. Positive

2. Reinforces High Expectations

3. Appropriate

4. Independence Is Promoted

5. Sincere

6. Effort and Progress Are Noted

1. Praise Is Positive

First, praise should always be positive. That may seem to be self-evident, but I’ve observed teachers who said they were praising students, but it was done in a sarcastic manner, with the corresponding body language. This snarky approach undermines any positive effects of the praise.

You may think sarcasm is an effective tool to use, particularly with older students. I respectfully disagree. My experience is that, although students won’t show it, deep down sarcasm reinforces any negative comments they’ve heard in the past. Again, too often, they experience enough sarcasm at home and from their peers. They need us to be encouraging and appreciative.

2. Praise Reinforces High Expectations

Next, praise should reinforce your high expectations. Notice I said HIGH expectations. If we praise something that is too easy for students, we can actually undermine their confidence. For example, let’s say we give students less rigorous work so they can “finish it easily and build their confidence,” and then praise them for that work.

It’s a strategy sure to backfire. They recognize they didn’t do the same level of work as their classmates, and when we praise them, they understand that we are just trying to make them “feel better.” In that case, rather than encouraging them, we are actually sending them the message that they aren’t “good enough” to do the real work, and it undermines their confidence.