Reinforcing Effort & Providing Recognition
Lap 2
There is more to this strategy than gold stars and green ribbons. Reinforcing effort is telling a student that they can learn and letting them become aware of their own learning potential. Providing recognition is letting the students know that they have done something right.
You can find some great resources by clicking on the links below!
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Reinforcing Effort
Reinforcing effort is a process that involves explicitly teaching students about the relationship between effort and achievement and acknowledging students' efforts when they work hard to achieve. When teachers emphasize this connection, they help students develop a sense of control over their academic learning. Recognizing students' efforts while they are working to achieve a goal can strengthen their resolve to complete the task.
Providing Recognition
Providing recognition is the process of acknowledging students' attainment of specific goals. The purpose is to encourage the student to continue to strive for academic greatness.
Students at every level look to their teacher to provide necessary recognition when they do anything good or bad in the classroom. The type of recognition given to a student by their teacher affects their individual attitude or belief on a subject or behavior. It is important for teachers to provide the individual recognition when it is deserved because it makes the students feel good about the work they are doing in class, which can in turn provide the extra boost the student may need to continue to pay attention in your class.
Students at every level look to their teacher to provide necessary recognition when they do anything good or bad in the classroom. The type of recognition given to a student by their teacher affects their individual attitude or belief on a subject or behavior. It is important for teachers to provide the individual recognition when it is deserved because it makes the students feel good about the work they are doing in class, which can in turn provide the extra boost the student may need to continue to pay attention in your class.
Secondary
What does that look like in a secondary classroom?
Click here to see a brief video: Recognizing effort
Click here to see a brief video: Recognizing effort
Elementary
Give authentic praise.
Using a symbolic reward is best, but tangible rewards are acceptable.
Reward students for the attainment of achievement.
Using a symbolic reward is best, but tangible rewards are acceptable.
Reward students for the attainment of achievement.
You Rock!
Students can carry these in their pockets as a reminder that their efforts were recognized.
Pause, Prompt, Praise
Pause, Prompt, Praise (Merrett & Thorpe 1996)
- Pause: During the pause phase of the strategy, the teacher asks the student to stop working on the task for a moment. The teacher and the student have a brief discussion about why the student is challenged by the task.
- Prompt: As a prompt, the teacher provides the student with some specific suggestion for improving performance.
- Praise: If the student’s performance improves as a result of implementing this suggestion, then praise is given.
- Example from Classroom Instruction That Works (page 59) Jake was struggling with long division and was becoming discouraged. His frustration must have been obvious because the teacher stopped at his desk and asked him to put down his pencil. When she saw that he was making mistakes mainly because his columns were sloppy, she gave him a piece of graph paper and showed him how to use it to make sure his numbers were lined up properly. He was surprised how well it worked and was thrilled when the next time the teacher stopped at his desk; it was to congratulate him on having completed four problems with no mistakes.
Show Them What Effort Looks Like
Have the students collaborate with you to develop an effort rubric such as the example shown below:
Rule of Six
To build a supportive relationship with your students you need a 6:1 ratio of positive to negative comments. The Rule of Six will remind you to give your students at least six positive comments for every negative one. They will be more receptive to your correction if you keep the right balance among praise, suggestions, and criticism.
Focus on what's working rather than on what needs to change. Sometimes we tend to take successes for granted. The rule of six reminds us to take the time to praise what is praiseworthy. Finding time to focus on the positive is a habit that can be developed.
Make compliments genuine. Manufacturing positive comments that aren't valid is a waste of everyone's time. It may be harder to come up with things to praise for a struggling student, but finding subtle strengths and building on successes is worth the effort.
Focus on what's working rather than on what needs to change. Sometimes we tend to take successes for granted. The rule of six reminds us to take the time to praise what is praiseworthy. Finding time to focus on the positive is a habit that can be developed.
Make compliments genuine. Manufacturing positive comments that aren't valid is a waste of everyone's time. It may be harder to come up with things to praise for a struggling student, but finding subtle strengths and building on successes is worth the effort.
Talk the Talk
Have students track their efforts.
- An activity you can have your students do to show them how their effort pays off is to have them keep a log of their weekly efforts and achievements. At a later date, you will have them reflect on their log and even mathematically analyze the data. This activity can be helpful in allowing students to notice that they are accomplishing goals that they set out to do.
Let them show what they know!
5th grader, Coleson Plouff, shares his knowledge of Coding with a crowd of parents and students.
"I like how you did that! Will show everyone what you just did?"
Give your students a sense of empowerment and accomplishment by allowing them to share their knowledge with others.
Give your students a sense of empowerment and accomplishment by allowing them to share their knowledge with others.
Useful sites:
Use these sites to create notes, awards, and certificates to provide recognition:
A Drop for your Bucket
Award Certificate Maker
http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/articles/kidsareauthors
https://www.classdojo.com/
A Drop for your Bucket
Award Certificate Maker
http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/articles/kidsareauthors
https://www.classdojo.com/
Best Tips for Implementation
- Be consistent. If the students see the teacher always put a value in recognizing effort and reinforcing effort they will be more inclined to do so as well.
- Keep a positive attitude and believe in your students. If you believe in them and keep an attitude of positivity, they will believe in themselves too.
- Help the students help themselves. Allow them to take responsibility for their efforts and recognize them when they are making progress.
