Thoughts on Praise, Blame, Mindset, and Student Engagement - Exit Slip

Praises or recognition are one of the motivational factors that positively affects the teaching and learning process. However, it should be done with taking into account factors like the context, the purpose of doing it, and the consequences that may occur. In our group, we tackled about the importance of language in both giving praises and negative feedbacks. As teachers, we should be careful our choice of words: teachers should praise the accomplishment of the student and not give some affiliation to the student that could elevate the student’s status from his peers and classmates. There are other ways on giving effective praises/feedbacks such as employing qualitative assessment like written comments, giving indirect feedbacks than public direct feedback.  One more interesting idea shared in the class was the idea about of integrating multidimensional technique in teaching and learning math (also with other subject areas) as this creates an ambiance of equality, open-mindedness, and recognition and acceptance of each and everyone’s accomplishment and failure. Praises are given to students to increase their learning or performance but sometimes they create an atmosphere of injustice and discrimination. I believe that retributive approach to recognition, wherein students are recognized based on merits, is essential. We just have to be careful and watchful on our words and actions (pedagogical sensitivity) because ... as what my favorite high school teacher used to say, "the most difficult things in the world to fix is a heart that's broken because of words that's spoken".