Encouragement is one of the most powerful tools a teacher can use. It is often the key to unlocking untapped potential in children, especially those who have trouble learning. Below is a look at the power of encouragement and some simple steps that parents and educators can take to encourage students during the learning process.
As an educator or parent, your words and actions have the ability to lift students up or break them down. Encouraging words and actions are often internalized by students and have the power to motivate them to succeed. Encouragement can even be the difference between students completing school and giving up on themselves.
There is no single recommended formula for encouraging students to succeed. Every young learner is unique and will respond differently to encouragement. However, there are some universal ways to show encouragement to students inside and outside the classroom. Below are eight simple ways you can take to encourage students to succeed.
"Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is."
The path to student confidence begins by creating a culture of encouragement. Teachers and parents can build a culture of encouragement by embodying the belief that every student has potential and is the ability to accomplish their goals. Additionally, you should strive to focus on students' positive behaviors and actions as opposed to their negative ones.
Keeping students on the right track once they demonstrate progress is vital to helping them achieve their goals. Providing verbal praise is a great way to offer encouragement to students who show progress throughout the learning journey.
Tangible forms of encouragement give students a visual reminder that they have the power to learn and succeed. They are especially effective when used sparingly or in moderation after students achieve learning milestones in the classroom. Here are a few tangible forms of encouragement that can inspire students to continue to work toward their goals:
Students are accustomed to being recognized for achieving major learning accomplishments and milestones. For instance, students typically receive praise when they learn how to read, complete a grade, or graduate from elementary school or high school. However, a true culture of encouragement involves praising students for small achievements and modest improvements in their efforts.
Schools with a culture of encouragement are known for recognizing students for their accomplishments in newsletters and at ceremonies. Others post inspiring messages on social media and post students' names on plaques and on banners in the hallway. When students receive this type of formal recognition, they are reminded that they have the power to achieve success.
"Some people offer encouragement in a boisterous way. They dole out lavish and effusive praise, bear hugs, and hearty cheers or applause. Other encouragers turn to techniques that are quiet and subtle: a soft smile, a kind word, or a light touch on the hand."
No two students are exactly alike in terms of the way that they respond to encouragement. In order to connect with as many students as possible, you will need to vary or combine your modes of encouragement. Nonverbal gestures such as smiles, nods, or light touches are often just as effective as verbal forms of encouragement. Ideally, you will be able to recognize which types of encouragement best motivate a particular student and use those tactics.
Precision can determine how impactful your encouragement is for a student. Using specific adjectives and descriptors can help your encouragement resonate with a student, whereas general praise is often not as meaningful. For instance, compare the two comments below and imagine their impact on a student:
The first comment offers general positive feedback, which the student may or may not link back to a specific desirable behavior or accomplishment. The second comment, however, is more precise and will be more helpful to the student because it references specific actions that can be replicated again in the future.
"A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success."
It is easy to offer encouragement when a student is succeeding. However, encouragement is often the most effective when students receive it when they are struggling to master concepts. By offering support when a student is failing or struggling, you reaffirm your unconditional positive regard for the student. This is a critical way to build trust and rapport with a student.
Clearly, there are many steps that teachers and parents can take to encourage children to succeed. However, the single best step a parent can take to ensure that their children receive the encouragement they need is to select a school that recognizes the power of encouragement. At Kentwood Preparatory School, we offer a culture of encouragement that helps students gain the confidence they need to thrive during and after school. We invite you to contact us to learn more about our award-winning school and how we encourage our students to succeed. We look forward to helping your child prosper.
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