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Providing Behavior-Specific Praise

S&I Disability Support
  • Updated

Skill: Provide behavior-specific praise regularly. 

 

Female teacher smiling and giving her student a thumbs-up

DEFINE

When a student follows class expectations and engages in other positive behaviors, it is important to provide behavior specific praise. You can do this by addressing the student, identifying the specific behavior they demonstrated, and offering positive feedback. Consistent, specific praise helps students understand which behaviors lead to success and increases the likelihood that those behaviors will occur again.  

 

MODEL

  • When Brother Frank asks a question, Jackson raises his hand before answering the question. Brother Frank responds, “Jackson, thank you so much for raising your hand before speaking!”. 
  • Samantha comes into class, sits at her desk, and takes out her scriptures, which is one of the classroom expectations. Her teacher, Sister Wesley, notices and says, “Samantha, I really appreciate how you are sitting at your desk and are ready to learn!”.  
  • After Stacy makes a comment in class, Sister Johanson says, “great job using an inside voice, Stacy.”  

PRACTICE

  • Write down how you can reword these phrases into behavior specific feedback. 
    • Great job! 
    • Nice work! 
    • You did well. 
    • Good job. 
  • Write behavior specific praise for the following scenarios. 
    • Jessica shares her scriptures with Baxter, who forgot to bring his own set. 
    • Brianna raises her hand and uses her communication device to ask for a break. 
    • Fernando keeps his hands to himself throughout the whole lesson and doesn’t touch any of his peers. 

DISCUSS OR PONDER

Consider the following questions: 

  • Why is it important to be specific when providing praise to our students? 
  • How did the Savior exemplify this skill? 

INCORPORATE

  • Think of students in your class that you can give behavior specific praise to. Write down what you will say to them.  

  • How will you incorporate this skill in your teaching?    

WANT MORE?

 

Teaching and Including Students with Disabilities Main Page
Additional Resources for Adapted Class Teachers
Additional Resources for Adapted Needs Coordinators
Additional Resources for Program Administrators

 

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