Lesson 5 of 7 · 5 min · 8-card deck

Praise that actually works

Specific, sincere and tied to effort — why generic praise undermines you.

Generic praise ('great job!', 'well done!') wears out fast. Pupils tune it out within weeks because it carries no information. Worse, when it's clear you're praising effort that wasn't really there, pupils stop trusting you — and the praise loses meaning even when deserved.

Effective praise is specific (it names the behaviour or work being praised), sincere (only given when warranted), and process-focused (tied to effort and strategy, not innate ability). 'I noticed you went back and improved your introduction — that paragraph is much sharper now' beats 'great work!' every time.

Active recall flashcards

Work through every card. Try to answer in your head before flipping — the act of retrieving is what builds durable memory.

Card 1 of 80 understood

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Practice scenario

Instead of 'good answer', the teacher says: 'You used a quote, you analysed the language, and you linked back to the question — that's exactly what the marker is looking for. Do that on every paragraph and you're at a Grade 8.'

Try this in your classroom

Always be specific — name what was good and why.
Tie praise to effort and strategy, not innate ability.
Aim for 4:1 positive-to-corrective interactions.
Withhold praise when it isn't deserved — credibility matters.