This measure examines how the teacher uses positive, supportive verbal responses and encouragement to reinforce or acknowledge good behavior and accomplishments. While positive general verbal responses and encouragement are uplifting, providing descriptive feedback to children supports and reinforces positive behavior, efforts, interests, and achievements. Examples of positive general verbal responses are “Thank you.” and “Nice job.” Positive, descriptive, more nurturing feedback includes praises like “Wow, you wrote your name!” and “Thank you for putting your plate in the trash!”
Category: Category 2: Teacher-Child Interactions
Subcategory: Language Facilitation and Support
Examples
In this section you will find videos, images, and/or documents that can be used to better understand this measure. These examples can also be used in conversations between mentors, directors, and/or teachers to discuss how the program's current practices compare to these examples.
Video Example
The teacher in this video encourages the baby with several positive, supportive phrases, such as “Let me see you do it!” and “Yay, goes in! Great job!” Providing praise reinforces the baby’s effort and accomplishments.
Age(s): Infant
Video Example
In this exemplar video segment, as a teacher is working with children during circle time, she uses positive verbal responses. When the children successfully complete the activity she praises them by acknowledging their accomplishments.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this exemplar preschool video segment, as a teacher is working with children, she uses positive verbal responses. When the children successfully complete the activity, she praises them by giving them a round of applause.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this exemplar video segment, during a circle time activity, a teacher uses encouragement to reinforce a child’s accomplishment. When the child successfully completes a task, the teachers praises him on a job well done.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this exemplar preschool video segment, as a teacher is working with children, she uses encouragement to reinforce a child’s accomplishment. When the child successfully completes the task, the teacher gives him detailed praise to reinforce the desired behavior she noticed.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this exemplar video segment, as a teacher is working with children during circle time, she uses positive verbal responses. When the children successfully complete an activity, the teacher gives them detailed praise to reinforce the desired behavior she noticed.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
This exemplar video segment shows a teacher providing verbal praise. She uses encouragement to reinforce a child’s accomplishment. When the child successfully completes the task, the teacher gives her detailed praise to reinforce the desired behavior she noticed.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
This exemplar video segment shows a teacher providing verbal praise after children complete a math activity. She uses words of encouragement to reinforce their accomplishments and the desired behaviors she noticed.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
This exemplar video segment shows a teacher giving verbal praise after a child successfully writes her name during an activity. She uses positive words to reinforce her accomplishment and to encourage the desired behaviors she noticed.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this exemplar video segment, a child describes his writing to his teacher and classmates. Upon completion, the teacher provides him with specific verbal praise about his writing and descriptions to encourage a continuation of the desired outcome.
Age(s): Preschool
