Positive Praise in an Online Class
There are many ways to praise students in an online class creatively! So, if you are relying on the same “great job” and thumbs up repeatedly, maybe it’s time to change things up with some of the positive praise below.
Round of Applause
I like to say “a ROUND of applause” and then extend with other shapes for laughs: a triangle of applause, a square of applause
Make Hand Hearts
K Pop has brought us joy and also lots of hand hearts! Here are ten fun K-pop-inspired hearts to make with your hands and make your student smile.
Utilize all the hand hearts and encourage the student to use Total Physical Response and do it with you while learning to say “great” or “amazing!”. Every chance for praise is also a chance for a new vocabulary word. Tie each type of heart to a certain word and your student will recall the word when you make the heart. There are so many ways to make hearts each time a student answered well. “The teacher loves when you do a good job and study! Great job!”
Blow Kisses
High Five
Give a high five! For a creative twist on the original tried and true, you can pretend the student hit you on your face for extra laughs.
Do a Dance
Bust out some funky moves and do a teacher dance. Bonus points if the student does it with you.
Do a Cheer
I have a set of pom-poms next to my desk for some epic cheers. Or, you can raise the roof like this teacher in a wonderful video about classroom techniques to foster growth mindsets.
Tie Each Gesture to a Specific Word
Never miss a chance to repeat and repeat and repeat new words! Every time you give a positive gesture, tie it to a specific word of affirmation. Always encourage Total Physical Response and be consistent so each gesture is tied to one word.
For example, every thumbs up is a “great,” every clap is a “wow,” and every heart is a “love it!”. This way, when you do the gesture, the kid is prompted to say the word. Tie each type of hand gesture to a certain word and pretty soon you will have your own fun inside claps/cheers/phrases that make your class unique and memorable for the student while also encouraging more and more output from them.
Utilize all the hand hearts and encourage the student to use Total Physical Response and do it with you while learning to say “great” or “amazing!”. Every chance for praise is also a chance for a new vocabulary word. Tie each type of heart to a certain word and your student will recall the word when you make the heart.
And, of course, you can give rewards for positive reinforcement too. Positive praise through a reward system is a great way to motivate your student, whether they are young kids or teens. Try these simply immediate ways to celebrate your online student:
Sticker on your face
Put stickers directly on your face or put them on your glasses. Don’t wear glasses? No problem! Wear some big goofy play glasses for even more fun!
A Hand Clapper
Have a hand-clapper handy 😉 for quick positive praise for each correct answer. Just don’t wake up the neighbors!
Blow a Kazoo!
Go to the dollar store and buy a kazoo. Great job! Wooo!!
Similarly, you can buy a birthday noisemaker.
Throw Confetti
You can rip up some paper and make this yourself. Hide it in your hands. Even better, if the student has some scrap paper, ask them. to rip up the paper with you for a little brain break. Throw your paper in the air together to celebrate their accomplishments in this class!
Emoji Faces
Grab some emoji stickers. Stick them on some magnets. Each time the student does well, slap a smiley face on the whiteboard.
At the end of class, don’t forget to leave on a high note and send even more praise while saying good-bye. The end of the online course is a time to review all the accomplishments that the student has achieved throughout their class. You should review all the vocabulary they learned and praise them again for hitting all their language goals!
Ways to Motivate Adult Language Learners
In a PPP format, this portion of the class is called a “closer activity” and is also referred to as a chance for reflection. Celebrating success is just as crucial for adult students as young students. A great way to send praise to an adult English language learner is to email a .pdf of a unit lesson certificate or diploma. This helps them chart their progress.
These are but a small sample of many ways to praise students in an online class. Regardless of your choice, just be sure to praise often and authentically. Add comments below to share your own ways to give students praise.
And, as always, happy teaching!
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