This is a good blogg.
Check the spelling in the first sentence, and remove the second “g” in blogg.
Now this is a really good blog.
The above is an example of a teaching strategy called “Praise Correct Praise” that is often implemented in classrooms and in martial arts.
Compliment the student.
Tell them what they did wrong.
Then give them another positive statement before walking away.
Also known as “PCP,” Praise Correct Praise is a way to keep corrections leaning toward the positive rather than the critical.
Rather than saying “No, wrong foot,” you say, “You’re doing a great job keeping your hands up (praise), now kick with the other foot instead (correct), you’re a fast learner (praise).”
Some people who are trying to be ultra-positive changed it to Praise Challenge Praise. “Great kick. I bet you can even do it with your hands up. That’s right!”
I suggest another strategy that may help instructors get a stronger connection with students.
“Praise. Question. Praise.”
At the end of each class, student leaders approach a student and their parent. The leader tells the parent something the child did well in class.
Then, the leader turns to the child and says, “Is there anything you want to work on more?”
That gi
ves the parent the opportunity to think critically about the child’s class. It’s an open-ended question. Where does the parent want to see improvement?
Then the leader replies: “I’ll let an instructor know and make sure we get the chance to work on that.”
This solves a few problems:
It gives student leaders a chance to help bridge the communication between parents and instructors.
Stu
dent leaders don’t have all the answers but they can help instructors get the information and help parents feel heard.
It gives instructors a chance to reinforce and reiterate the parents’ priority in a later class
Instructors don’t have to get feedback from parents at every class - they have helpful student leaders covering the bases
Instructors will often learn something they didn’t already know.
Student leaders gain knowledge and more interest in the child’s success every time they talk to a parent.
The child gets the opportunity to share their perspective on class to another student
rather than an instructor. They might be more comfortable talking to a kid.
In conclusion,
This is a good idea for all martial arts instructors.
It would be helpful to have other examples of possible questions and answers when implementing Praise Question Praise.
I’ll work on that. Thank you for reading!
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