Focus on Every Child
It can be easy for a teacher to concentrate on one particular student they feel is struggling. But it is important for the benefit of the classroom that help is short and sweet. This keeps the pace up and eliminates the opportunity for other students to get away with unruly behavior or distraction. This is why it is important to "Praise, Prompt, and Leave" (Jones, 2007).
How it's done
Jones (2007) describes a five step process to Praise, Prompt, and Leave that he has found to be effective. It is as follows:
Step one: Breath and Relax: It can be tempting to let out frustration on a student who did not get a lesson that you've spent HOURS preparing for. It happens. Sometimes it is as simple as a communication error- sometimes the student just needs a little more help.
Step two: Breath Again: Now that you are relaxed look for positives in the students work. Look hard! It is important that you do this to be able to move on to the next step.
Step three: Praise the positive: Once you find your positive, happily declare it to your student in question. This relaxes the student and helps the prompt be easier to take (Remember also, students feed off of your emotions too and will feel positive if you feel positive, stressed if you feel stressed, etc.).
Step four: Prompt and Give Direction: The best way to help a student is to tell them the next step in order to get a question correct. The phrasing of the prompt is important. One successful way to start the prompt is to say "The next step is..." going off what the student has done correctly. This builds on what knowledge they are sure about and gives them more confidence to proceed.
Step five: Leave: This is important to create independence for the student and for the teacher to be able to help others in need. If allowed, the student will keep the teacher there and have them take them step by step in every question. This consumes too much time on just one student (not that they are not worth time- because they are) and could end up leaving other students confused and in need. EVERYONE is important. That is important to consider in all of this.
Step one: Breath and Relax: It can be tempting to let out frustration on a student who did not get a lesson that you've spent HOURS preparing for. It happens. Sometimes it is as simple as a communication error- sometimes the student just needs a little more help.
Step two: Breath Again: Now that you are relaxed look for positives in the students work. Look hard! It is important that you do this to be able to move on to the next step.
Step three: Praise the positive: Once you find your positive, happily declare it to your student in question. This relaxes the student and helps the prompt be easier to take (Remember also, students feed off of your emotions too and will feel positive if you feel positive, stressed if you feel stressed, etc.).
Step four: Prompt and Give Direction: The best way to help a student is to tell them the next step in order to get a question correct. The phrasing of the prompt is important. One successful way to start the prompt is to say "The next step is..." going off what the student has done correctly. This builds on what knowledge they are sure about and gives them more confidence to proceed.
Step five: Leave: This is important to create independence for the student and for the teacher to be able to help others in need. If allowed, the student will keep the teacher there and have them take them step by step in every question. This consumes too much time on just one student (not that they are not worth time- because they are) and could end up leaving other students confused and in need. EVERYONE is important. That is important to consider in all of this.
Spiritual Relevance
Philippians 4:8 talks about "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pur, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things". This is true in the positive motivation of our students. In helping them to further their learning we really do need to focus on the positives of everything and help them find it too. This will motivate students and make them feel cared for, making them want to learn!