I recently read an interesting article in The Washington Post about “Teachers tempering praise to push students.” It addresses the thinking in education that students thrive on praise which would lead to high self-esteem and high achievement. Now educators are realizing that “empty praise” is non-productive. “Drawing on psychology and brain research, these educators aim to articulate a more precise and scientific vocabulary for praise that will push children to work through mistakes and take on more challenging assignments.” Instead of coaching a student and supplying support for an answer, teachers are being encouraged to let students work for an answer, even if it takes several attempts before the correct answer is derived. “A growing body of research over three decades shows that easy, unearned praise does not help students but instead interferes with significant learning opportunities.” “Persistence, risk taking and resilience” help create a more disciplined student than one who is cajoled along the path of learning. 

As the article suggests, “Children praised for trying hard or taking risks tend to enjoy challenges and find greater success. Children also perform better when they believe that their intellect is not a birthright but something that grows and develops as they learn new things.” 

It is suggested that a more positive way of encouraging our students would be to say “look how hard you are working,” rather than “look how smart you are.” It should be the process that merits praise, not just the product.

On Thursday, March 1, the school will hold an Admissions Preview for prospective new families. We encourage current families to tell friends and acquaintances who are interested in the school about the Admissions Preview. The school visit generally lasts an hour and a half to two hours, begins at 9:00 a.m. with a brief presentation in the library and includes a tour of the campus.

The Country School will again host Guiding Good Choices for all 5th through 8th grade Country School families. While we tried to come up with a schedule for these classes to be held in the evenings, we were unable to find four consecutive weeks given the extremely busy spring school and family calendars.The dates and times of the sessions are listed below. Please email Vicki Sauers by March 23rd so that we can provide Talbot Partnership with a final number of participants so they can bring the correct amount of course materials.  

Guiding Good Choices was created for parents of children about to enter their teens. Field tested and research-based, the course helps families increase the chances that their children will stay free of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Guiding Good Choices is a 4-session program for families with children in 5th – 8th grades. Sessions 1, 2, and 4 are for parents only, and Session 3 is for parents and their 5th-8th grade children.

1^st Session:  Wednesday, 3/28 - 1:15-3:15 Aftercare Room (parents only)

Overview of adolescent substance abuse and the risks of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.

2^nd Session: Thursday, 4/5 - 1:15-3:15 Aftercare Room (parents only)

Skills for family communication about alcohol, tobacco and drug use.                                                

3^rd Session:Wednesday, 4/11 - 3:30-5:30 Mrs. Sheets Room #14 (parents and 5th-8th grade children)

Skills for children on resisting peer pressure, and for parents to help them practice.

4^th Session:Tuesday, 4/17, 1:15-3:15 Aftercare Room (parents only)

Skills for parents on controlling their anger, and to increase children’s roles in the family.