Positive Framing - Precise Praise for Lebone students

Sibongile NHLAPO

I walked into a Grade 9 Accounting class and saw some students who prefer sitting in the front row. I thought to myself that they were intelligent, because they prefer to be up front. As I walked by looking at their work I realised that they were actually struggling academically. But they were trying so hard. Later on I met the same students in their Personal Project class. This time she was trying her best by writing a book, which she gave to me to read. I realised, each time I saw her,  that she is a hard worker who is incredibly determined to improve.

Bex MARRIOTT

This Shout Out goes to a boy who this week was publicly acknowledged for being in the top 10 of his Grade at the end of Term 2. Until now, his indiscipline within my lessons has meant significant underachievement in spite of times when his intelligent and thoughtful approach towards some tasks has revealed his true ability and potential. Today, and yesterday, in aiming to complete a detailed floor plan from which to work on a 3D model, he remained on task for longer than usual and produced carefully drawn, interesting plans. In praising his progress, improvement in approach and  his Top 10 placement, his response was almost immediate- and applied himself all the more!

Elias DITSHWENE

I would like to praise a particular student for bringing a more energetic mind to class every lesson. Today when were tackling  new  content relating to chemical reactions  we had a  debate about the reaction that takes place when sugar is burned in air.  She said that the chemical equation would result in sugar giving off water and carbon dioxide, and noted that the nature of the reaction results in both chemical and physical change.

Portia MAHUMA

The previous week I was with the Grade 3 class while Mrs Du Plessis was away. The Grade 3s had to write a Mathematics assessment. What stood out for me was when I marked their papers and only 4 got 49 out of 50 but one student who deserves particular praise was a boy whose only mistake was 1 silly mistake (miscalculation). He managed to finish the test in a short period of time.

Thapelo MASEMENE

A boy in Grade 9  has shown a great deal of dedication towards his Mathematics from the beginning of Term 2 until the present moment.  He is constantly coming for consultation almost every morning so as to check if he is on the right track with the course content and what we are covering in class.  He has asked for extra exam papers over and above the revision worksheets I gave to his classmates.  His efforts have resulted in him moving from the 50s at the end of Grade 8 and Term 1 average-wise to the upper 60s in T2, as well as achieving 73% for his examination. His positive attitude and maintaining good working habits have proven to be fruitful. 

Joe COSSA

There is a girl in Grade 10 Life Orientation who is always well behaved and participates fully in our lessons. We are now tackling a module on Democracy and she's right on top of her game. She is understanding every aspect of it and her level of argument is amazing. I was so touched that I had to ask her after our lesson if she's interested in politics and she said it is because she takes history with Mr Morake. I would like to praise her for taking her studies so seriously.

Charlene JACHA

I have a Shout Out for a boy in Grade 10 at the end of  term two. He had failed to submit homework three times in a row at the beginning of the term. I called him in and we talked. He agreed that he was going to change and hand in all his work. He lived up to the promise, he submitted all work on time. I gave him a loud Shout Out and a big hug for keeping his word.

Richard SIBEKO

My Precise Praise goes to a Grade 7 boy in my English class. At the beginning of the year he struggled to understand, interpret and apply the content learnt in class. He often came to my office for help and nothing seemed to "go through". After marking his June exam paper, he managed to score a 68%. I remember calling him in and praising him for his continued effort to excel in the subject. It was through his hard work and determination that he managed to achieve his goal. It was genuine and did not feel like the generic praise we give on a day to day basis in class.

Laura MULLER

A boy in Grade 4 deserves Precise Praise as he mastered the correct use of speech marks. At first he struggled with using the last speech mark correctly, but after some assistance he was able to carry on successfully by himself. His homework was all correct and for this I praised him for reaching the objective which was challenging at first.

Colleen KNILL

My Precise Praise Shout Out goes to a Grade 10 boy  for being 3 for 3 in submitting assignments this term! It has inspired me to give his class a “no outstanding work challenge” where they motivate each other to turn in work. Every 3 week cycle, if everyone submits their work, they get a treat of their choice. It seems silly in a way to reward them for something they are meant to do, however, submitting work was something that this Grade 10 group really struggled with last term. One boy submitted almost no work last term, and I think the term started off well for him when the class worked on a comprehension that he found interesting and completed in class. Since then, he has risen to the occasion of the class challenge and submitted all of his work on time. By the end of last term, I found myself not paying much attention (good or bad) to him, because I had just come to assume he wasn’t going to do the work I asked. This term I am making a much more conscious effort to encourage him and recognize the positives in the work he submits.

Mmakgosi SEKGOME

The one student who stood out the most for me this week was a Grade 8 boy for the way in which he explained his own understanding about chemical reactions in a way that was unusual and interesting. Since particles of reagents combine to form new molecules, he described it along the lines of 3 pigs and 3 horses combining to make 3 pig-horses. The manner in which he explained it to his peers was remarkable. I wouldn't have said or taught it better myself.

Elize AGENBAG

My Shout Out goes to a Grade 7 boy who has worked consistently and has concentrated very hard to apply the techniques learned in our Art elective. He managed to complete his task while other students only came about 1/3 of the way.