1. Praise efforts, not smarts.

“You kept at this problem even though it was hard! You never gave up!”

“You finished this whole math page without getting distracted once!”

“You were really looking for times when you could make a pass in soccer today!”

2. Celebrate small steps.

“I noticed you got your homework copied in your planner for two classes! That’s a great habit that will help you all through school!”

3. Celebrate the strengths.

“I like how you always take time to put your homework in your homework folder.”

4. Focused praise helps them see strategies.

“You’re getting more independent because you’ve been taking the time to read the directions on each assignment. Great job!”

5. Mistakes are tools by which we learn.

“Every time we make a mistake, it gives our brain a chance to learn! The brain is like a muscle. When it has to work hard to solve a problem or think about something hard, it grows stronger, just like a muscle!”