How Important is Praise?

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/in-schools-self-esteem-boosting-is-losing-favor-to-rigor-finer-tuned-praise/2012/01/11/gIQAXFnF1P_story.html?hpid=z3 

Earlier this morning, I read an interesting article from the Washington Post (see link above).  When I read the following excerpt, five of my student popped instantly into my head.

Alfie Kohn, author of the book “Punished by Rewards,” has said most praise, even for effort, encourages children to be “praise junkies” dependent on outside feedback rather than cultivating their own judgment and motivation to learn.

Read the article for yourself.  What do you think?  While I agree that confidence is important, I do not want my students to work only for praise and external factors.  I want them to become independent critical thinkers.  I want them to realize that not everything comes easily; some things require work hard and persistence.  I also want them to realize how great it feels when they truly succeed.

"I have a dream..."

This week in class, my students learned about Martin Luther King Junior's heroic contributions to our country.  We started by using a class set of books from our third grade storage room.

Students volunteered and took turns reading the pages of the story together as a class.  We stopped throughout the story to discuss how life would have been different without MLK Jr.  Students also shared similarities and differences between MLK and themselves.  For example, many students learned that MLK Jr. enjoyed playing basketball when he was young.  They also couldn't believe that young Martin was told he had to stop playing with two of his friends just because they had different skin colors.

http://www.lauracandler.com/filecabinet/seasonal/MLKBrainPOPVideoPacket.pdf

After reading the story together, students had small group discussions to discuss their reactions.  I was impressed the students' conversations which demonstrated higher level thinking.  Following the discussions, we learned new vocabulary (segregate, civil rights, etc.) using Laura Candler's vocabulary cards.  Each student received a set of flashcards printed on colorful card stock.  Candler provided vocabulary activities, discussion questions, sequence cards, and so much more.  In small groups, students completed the sequence cards to create a timeline.  Students glued the cards to construction paper and added illustrations to each event.  To conclude the lesson, our class watched a short BrainPop video (http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/martinlutherkingjr/).  Students enjoyed the video so much they asked how to access the content at home!

2012 Wedding!!

In 2002, I met Justin when I was a high school sophomore.  We rowed together for our high school team and shared several mutual friends.  I had an embarrassingly large crush on him (and everyone, including him, knew it) but he didn't want to date anyone so we became friends.  We would talk together in the halls after school before rowing practice so often that one of my teacher's felt the need to call my dad about it!  Apparently, I should have spent more time on my homework during that time...

On June 18, 2004 he FINALLY asked me out (the day AFTER I graduated).   We had a long distance relationship for our entire college experience.  I went to the University of Tulsa and he went to Cornell University.  It was extremely difficult because we only saw each other during summer break, winter break, and several days in fall and spring.  However, the distance didn't keep us completely apart.  We spent hours on the phone together, which caused for some unfortunate cell phone bills.  I believe our record was somewhere around six hours.  In December of 2009 we were reunited when he returned home with his Masters' degree.

In December 2010 he took me on a romantic (and surprise) trip to New York City!  We skated at Rockefeller Center (where someone got down on one knee in the middle of the ice), went to the Empire State Building (where yet another proposal occurred), ate delicious sandwiches at Carnegie Deli, and SO much more.  When we first got up to NYC, I thought to myself, this could be it!  I might be engaged by the end of this trip.  But after all of the engagements that were occurring literally just feet from us, and no word from Justin, a couple days into the trip I decided that he wasn't going to ask so I should just get a grip!

Well...later that evening he proved me wrong.  We ate dinner at Lombardi's Pizza and then took the Subway back to our hotel on Broadway where we changed for a show.  We saw Promises, Promises with Sean Hayes, Molly Shannon, and Kristin Chenoweth (who was, unfortunately, not performing that night).  The show was amazing, to say the least.  At the end, people were able to meet the actors and get autographs, however, Justin pulled me out fast and lead me to Central Park.  We took a horse and carriage ride with a beautiful white horse named Jimmy.  There was a blizzard right before we arrived, so there was snow everywhere.  It was beautiful (and cold)!  At one point, the carriage stopped and Justin and I got out at the fountain they taped the opening credits for the tv show Friends.  We had a picture taken and then the next thing I know, Justin was proposing.  He even got down on one knee in the snow and ice.  What a gentleman!  I had lots of happy tears and we took some more pictures.  We started walking back to the hotel and stopped to buy me a red rose.  Next, we went to the lounge upstairs.  We sipped on a bottle of champagne as we talked, stared at my sparkly ring, and overlooked Times Square.  A perfect end to a perfect day!


Now, we're planning our wedding for August 11th in Arlington, Virginia.  Our venue is on the top floor of a building and overlooks Washington DC and is perfectly lined up with the Mall.  There are wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony so there will be a great view no matter where you are inside.  We're having an evening wedding in anticipation of a beautiful sunset followed by illuminated monuments.

I had a wonderful time last year.  I can't wait to see what is in store for me this year!  Happy 2012!