Shop by Topic
Shop by Product
ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues
<< Previous Issue
| View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> 
Bad Praise, Good Praise
November 7, 2016
Our world is complex and growing more so every day. It is no longer enough to shape learners who know. For our students to be truly successful they must also be brave in the face of not-knowing.
-Caitlin (Cat) Lynch, Artist Educator
-Caitlin (Cat) Lynch, Artist Educator
"According to a survey we conducted in the mid-1990's, 85 percent of parents believed that praising children's ability or intelligence when they perform well is important for making them feel smart. But our work shows that praising a child's intelligence makes a child fragile and defensive," reports Carole Dweck in her Scientific American Child article, "The Secret of Raising Smart Kids."
"So, too, does generic praise that suggests a stable trait, such as 'You are a good artist.' Praise can be very valuable, however, if it is carefully worded. Praise for the specific process a child used to accomplish something fosters motivation and confidence by focusing children on the actions that lead to success. Such process praise may involve commending effort, strategies, focus, persistence in the face of difficulty, and willingness to take on challenges."
To support you in supporting families, we are offering this helpful book at 40 percent off. |
|
Enter coupon code PARENT at checkout.
 Offer valid through August 31, 2021, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. |
ExchangeEveryDay
Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
What is ExchangeEveryDay?
ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
Comments (3)
Displaying All 3 CommentsWorld Forum Foundation
Eugene, Oregon, United States
Exchange was way ahead of the game on this one. If you go back to 1995, you'll find one of my favorite Exchange articles, "Not in Praise of Praise" by Kathleen Grey. Worth re-reading (and perhaps updating) given what we now know about developing growth mindset, resilience, grit and the like.
CCR&R at John A Logan College
Carterville, Illinois, United States
Nice succinct piece. I immediately thought about connectors between the types of conversations that the authors of the ERS tools hope for as well as something I read in Daniel Pink's book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Finally, as an avid Chicago Cubs fan I read the pep talk outfielder Jason Heyward gave to the team during the rain delay in Game 7 of the World Series and the praise he gave pointed out their focus and persistence in the face of challenge and as you all know, IT WORKED!
CSBC
Denver, CO, United States
When the writer talks about "our work", I wonder who the families and children are that she studied (this is always the central issue in any research). While in general I agree with the view of this piece, there are some children who receive no praise and no support, while experiencing many put downs and harsh criticisms. These children need any praise they can get!
Post a Comment