Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition*

by Sheryl Smith

*Classroom Instruction that Works Robert J. Marzano, Debra, J . Pickering, Jane E. Pollock, MCREL, 2001.

How do character traits such as perseverance and preparation relate to achievement ?

Lucille Ball was dismissed from drama school for being too quiet and shy.

(Paul Stirling Hagerman, It's a Weird World)

Michael Jordan was cut from his high-school basketball team as a sophomore.

(Bob Greene, in Reader's Digest)

Charles Schulz was told by his high school's yearbook staff that his cartoons were not acceptable for the annual.

(Charles E. Ferrell, in the Clergy Journal)

Julia Roberts - auditioned for a part in All My Children and didn’t get it.

Albert Einstein failed his first college entrance exam at Zurich Polytechnic.

(Charles Reichblum, Knowledge in a Nutshell) 

Effort and recognition speak to the attitudes and beliefs of students. Teachers must show the connection between effort and achievement.

Research shows that although not all students realize the importance of effort, they can learn to change their beliefs to emphasize effort.

Applications:

•Find ways to personalize recognition. Give awards for individual accomplishments.

•"Pause, Prompt, Praise." If a student is struggling, pause to discuss the problem, then prompt with specific suggestions to help her improve. If the student's performance improves as a result, offer praise.

Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition through Technology

Certificate templates using word processing software.Create rubrics.Create a book.Web page sharing student work.Online portfolios.CD of portfolio.Email to student.Email to student’s home.Multimedia presentation.Use iMovie to create student presentation for recognition.Create a student-produced newscast of notable events.Use Excel to create tracking charts.

Summary of Research on Reinforcing Effort People generally attribute success at any given task to one of four causes: ability, effort, other people and luck.

Not all students realize the importance of believing in effort.

Students can learn to change their beliefs to an emphasis on effort.

Classroom Application

The student examples that follow include the finalists in the Character Counts! poster project.

All students have their work exhibited at the following website:

Character Counts! Poster Gallery