“Good job,” “You can do it,” “Thank you,” “You’re doing really well,” “I like how you actively participate”: all of these are positive encouragement. Encouragement is a wonderful tool in anything: tutoring a student, working on a project with somebody, and as I learned recently-working in a team. All of these three things applies to the PTC. We’re a team, we work together with each other and the people we help, and of course, we tutor others.
Now if you’re being tutored, I’m willing to bet you don’t really understand the topic. Now with that, you might be a little hesitant. I’ve seen it with people I’ve tutored in math, it was like if they got the question wrong the scary math monster would come out and attack. One girl in particular was like this when we first started tutoring, but by the end of the session she was already working on the next step of the problem before I even asked the question. Yes, she still wanted me to check her work and make sure she was right but she was no longer hesitant and was confident in doing the problem.
This could just because she practiced and got better with that, but I also like to think encouragement helps. Think about it, which would you respond better to out of the following choices:
Tutor and the student Millie, going over English Grammar.
1. Tutor: So which of these answers are grammatically correct?
A. They is not going to the store.
B. They are not going to the store
C. They ain’t going to the store.
D. They are not going to the store.
Millie: B?
Tutor: No! How can you not see that there is a period there? Are you blind?
Tutor and the student Millie, going over English Grammar.
2. Tutor: So which of these answers are grammatically correct?
A. They is not going to the store.
B. They are not going to the store
C. They ain’t going to the store.
D. They are not going to the store.
Millie: B?
Tutor: No, try again.
Tutor and the student Millie, going over English Grammar.
3. Tutor: So which of these answers are grammatically correct?
A. They is not going to the store.
B. They are not going to the store
C. They ain’t going to the store.
D. They are not going to the store.
Millie: B?
Tutor: That was a good try, Millie. However it is D because answer choice B did not have a period at the end, and is not grammatically correct because of it. It was a simple mistake though. Want to try another one?
We would all probably respond best to the third choice. With the first choice, I would have left, however I don’t think any PTC member is like that. While choice two would work as well, however, if you’re feeling discouraged the encouragement helps pick up confidence and makes them want to participate more than if it was a simple “wrong, try again”.
Now if you give encouragement when they get the answer wrong, when the student gets the question right, you should give them praise. It can be simple, like “good job,” but it is still very encouraging. I like being told I did a good job, and don’t we all?
Using their name also encourages them and shows them that you care and are actively participating. Doesn’t it feel better when your teacher uses your name instead of never using it (I personally have had a teacher who never used my name at all the entire semester, and then I had one who used the wrong name--it wasn’t the best feeling in the world). By using their name, this is also a small way of encouragement.
Encouragement helps build up confidence, and when you are confident in a subject, you do better. We all want the people we tutor to do better in their class right? Also the encouragement factor makes them feel good and by flip turn hopefully makes them want to come back to the PTC.
Encouragement does build confidence. As a veteran teacher, I have witnessed this first hand. There are students that have never been offered encouragement or praise. I had a parent to tell me some years ago that I was the first teacher that ever said anything good about their child. That's really sad! I acquired my philosophy for teaching many years ago that "learning hinges on the prospect of success rather than the threat of failure." It works!
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ReplyDeleteWhat a great article Emily! I think so many times students hesitate to ask questions in class (f2f or online) is because they're afraid of the response they'll get. It's hard enough to feel like you don't understand but to cut down again for not understanding... yikes, that's rough. Instructors should always strive to look on the positive side and tutors are an extension of the instruction at NCVPS.
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer in that it's not what you say, it's how you say it. Negativity will turn a frustrated student into a completely shut-down student. It's our job as teachers/tutors to encourage students to try and let them know that if they continue to push, they will get it! Besides, you will catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, you are absolutely correct. The way in which you say something communicates much more than what you say. I am interested in how our narrative comments are read by students we cannot see.
ReplyDeleteI love this article! Encouragement is powerful. I celebrate all successes in my class. If a student thinks you believe in them they will work so hard for you. Education is a team effort and working together for success should be an expectation.
ReplyDeleteEncouragement is so vital to students feeling successful - whether they get it on the first try or on the fifth. I think students are more willing to go the extra mile when they know that you care and want them to succeed. Positive statements (even when the student gets the answer wrong) can have a huge impact on a struggling student.
ReplyDeleteThere were some cute examples in this article. Of course, we all want to think that our efforts are getting us somewhere. Probably, there are some students taking NCVPS courses who have encountered negative comments in their Face to Face school. We want them to think of NCVPS as a caring place, as a school that will help them to succeed.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! Everyone responds better when we use a positive tone! It doesn't matter if you are young or old, male or female, professional or student, people are more receptive to what you have to say if you are encouraging. I've seen this firsthand in my face to face and online classes! Thanks for sharing and reminding us of this great practice!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the quote by Fredrick Douglas "It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken me." If you encourage students in positively then it builds their confidence to try new things and tasks outside their comfort zone. When you are constantly tearing a person down then they will be less willing to try things and trust others.
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