Praising middle school students improves on-task behavior by up to 70%

Students speaking out of turn, texting, telling rude jokes, falling asleep in class, making distracting gestures—managing these behaviors is all in a day's work for many middle school teachers, who shepherd adolescents through some of their most trying years. Add in the disruptions of a global pandemic to exacerbate student anxiety and depression, and this year middle school teachers may find themselves with more challenging behaviors to address than ever before.