The Guardian – Jamie Thom 
To praise or not to praise, that is the question. After condemnation in reports such as What Makes Great Teaching, confusion reigns around how frequently teachers should use praise in their classrooms and how best to do it. Everyone values being praised and recognised for their endeavours – it is a huge part of nurturing our self-esteem and confidence. Praise has its place in any lesson; to reject it would be to encourage a clinical and cold environment. When well employed, it can motivate students and help build a positive and optimistic classroom culture. (more)