1 second compliments last a lifetime

Praise is one of the simplest and most powerful tools we have! Think about how fantastic you feel when a student compliments your teaching.... how must a growing individual feel when they receive positive compliments from the person they look up to.

The good news is that when praise is effective, it’s really effective. Teachers who use praise regularly tend to have better relationships with their students. They lose less instructional time and see fewer behaviour issues.

When complimenting learners it is helpful to be specific. Students should be able to identify exactly what they did well and know the positive work you want them to repeat. I teach individuals from 19 all the way to 60 years, and positivity all ways makes them grin from ear to ear. The older learner especially like to know exactly where they have achieved.

It is even more important to be clear about your expectations. For compliments to be effective, learners need to know what the standards are. Explicitly state the criteria you’re using to evaluate an assignment or the outcomes you expect. This is why Ofsted are so finickity about learning objectives. I always find it helps to provide an example of previous student work.

Always praise the learning process not just the outcome. All students learn differently, and they will all work at different paces and have different needs. Make sure you praise individuals specifically for the journey they've taken. For example, some of my learners put a lot of effort into their research which I would praise, and other will focus on the fine details of a product, which I would praise.

Lastly, try not to over compliment! Some students may thrive on being praised in front of the whole class. Other students may be uncomfortable being singled out, even if it’s for a good reason. Try and balance out your written and verbal feedback, and do not use the same wording every time as it wont seem as meaningful. Fixed compliments are not only dangerous, but also counterproductive.

My groups are often an extremely mixed bunch, not only by age and nationality, but with their abilities. It is important to compliment how hard they are trying rather than how good they are at something.

I have previously taught a learner in his 40's who had quite recently lost both his dad and his wife to cancer. He was extremely nervous with a severe lack in confidence. For months this poor individual had been cooped up in his home with only his own thoughts to rely on. When he signed up to my course he pre-warned me about his circumstances and that he would potentially miss sessions due to his mental health. To cut a long story short, after some tailored written compliments on his work, he became a completely different person. This gave him the boost that he needed to start meeting up with friends and he began to make small changes in the home he shared with his wife.

Sharing compliments with learners is much more than just improving their education and work ethics, they can be lifechanging.

Do you have any life-altering compliment stories? Contact me to share them!