An educational warning : praising pupils may be bad for their progress

Maclellan, Effie (2006) An educational warning : praising pupils may be bad for their progress. Education Today, 56 (1). pp. 13-16. ISSN 0013-1547

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Abstract

This article argues that the teacher is not well served by relying on simplistic and common sense understandings of the construct of praise. Person-praise is useful when pupils are experiencing success but unhelpful when faced with failure or confronted by setback. However, process-praise can enable pupils to see that they are important agents in their own behaviour/successful academic achievement. Given the considerable and increasing complexity of the teacher's role in today's society, the teacher's sophisticated use of praise would seem to be an important pedagogical tool.