Survey: 80% of teachers use verbal praise in classrooms

Teacher Tapp released a survey indicating that teachers favor verbal praise as a method of rewarding students, with 80% reporting its use in their last lesson. This announcement was made on Teacher Tapp's website on February 7.

The survey revealed that among teachers, 15% used stickers or stamps as a form of praise, while 10% opted to record praise in an online system. Additionally, 7% rewarded students through other methods, highlighting the variety of approaches educators employ to recognize and encourage student achievement.

According to ResearchGate, praise focused on effort rather than innate talent has been shown to enhance student motivation, persistence, and enjoyment of learning. The research suggests that students who receive effort-based praise are more likely to adopt learning goals, persist through challenges, and maintain a positive attitude toward difficult tasks. In contrast, praising talent can lead to performance-based goals and a fixed mindset, potentially reducing resilience when facing academic difficulties.

CNN reports that a study published in Educational Psychology found that classrooms with higher praise-to-reprimand ratios experienced up to a 30% increase in positive student behavior. Teachers who praised students more frequently helped them stay focused and engaged, while excessive reprimands were linked to increased misbehavior.

Teacher Tapp was founded in 2017 by Becky Allen and Laura McInerney as a survey app that gathers daily insights from over 10,000 educators. Their mission is to amplify teachers’ voices in education decisions, ensuring those on the ground are heard by policymakers, media, and education businesses.