BY EDWARD S. KUBANY
EVERYONE KNOWS that a little praise goes a long way in any classroom. But "a little praise" really needs to be something more than the same few phrases repeated over and over ad nauseum. Your students need more than the traditional "Good," "Very good" and "Fine" if encouragement is in the cards. Here are some additional possibilities:
That's really nice.
Thank you very much.
I like the way you're working.
Keep up the good work.
Everyone's working so hard.
That's quite an improvement.
Keep it up.
It's a pleasure to teach when you work like this.
What neat work.
You really outdid yourself today.
This kind of work pleases me very much.
Congratulations. You only missed _____.
That's right! Good for you.
I bet your Mom and Dad would be proud to see the job you did on this.
I'm very proud of the way you worked (are working) today.
I appreciate your help.
Very good. Why don't you show the class?
Thank you for (sitting down, being quiet, getting right to work, etc.).
That looks like it's going to be a great report.
I like the way Tom is working.
My goodness, how impressive!
You're on the right track now.
That's "A" work.
John is in line.
Mary is waiting quietly.
Dickie got right down to work.
Ann is paying attention.
It looks like you put a lot of work into this.
That's an interesting way of looking at it.
Now you've figured it out.
Clifford has it.
That's the right answer.
Now you've got the hang of it.
That's a good point.
That's a very good observation.
That certainly is one way of looking at it.
That's an interesting point of view.
Thank you for raising your hand, Charles. What is it?
Sherrie is really going to town.
You've got it now.
Out of sight.
You make it look easy.
That's coming along nicely.
I like the way Bill (the class) has settled down. Dr. Edward S. Kubany can be contacted at:
Behavior Therapy Clinic
4211 Waialae Ave. Suite 206
Honolulu, HI 96816
This article was first published in September 1972, in Teacher, 90(1), pg. 47. He and his publisher have placed the article in the public domain.
Last updated 2 March 1999
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