- with different expressions to show: average/good/very good In Reading Projects, the Pairs often keep a diary or record of what they have done. The 'helper' of the Pair is asked to write something each time about how well the 'reader' has done that day. It is best if the 'helper' can think of something good to write.
A lot of 'helpers' soon find it hard to think of new things to write. This little book makes it easy. It has many ideas about words of praise to use. So if you get stuck for what to write, just read the dictionary together, till you find the words that seem right for the day. If the 'helper' has trouble choosing, ask the 'reader' for ideas of what would be right.
The words of praise are split into four groups. The first group is about 'Attitude' to reading - how the readers feel about reading, and if they have liked it. The second group is about 'Effort' - how hard the readers have tried with their reading. The third group is about 'Skill' - what the readers have done when reading which shows they are getting better. This is split into:- (a) Accuracy - reading words exactly right, (b) Comprehension - understanding what you read, (c) Style - improvements in the way you read.
Readers often need to get better in Attitude and Effort before they get better in Skill - that is why praise is very important. The fourth group of praise words are shorter and more general - handy if you are in a rush.
Words like 'very', 'really', 'more', 'increasingly', 'obviously', etc can be added to many of these.
Animated!
Assured
Believes in self as reader
Cheerful re reading
Couldn't put it down
Couldn't wait to get going
Didn't want to stop!
Eager
Enjoyed book in spite of difficulty
Enjoyed every minute of reading
Enjoyed him/herself
Enjoys the reading tonic!
Enthusiastic
Expects more of self
Fast-breeder reader
Hangs on every word
High-energy reading
Impatient to start
Interested
Keen
Less apprehensive
Likes the book
Lively reading
Loved the story
Motivation better
Optimistic re reading
Positive in approach
Prolific reader
a Reading dynamo
Reading more widely
Reading much more than before
a Reborn reader
Receptive
Renewed vigor in reading
a Restored reader
Self-reliant
Spontaneously asked to read
Takes pleasure in reading
Trying hard to please
Willing to read
Absorbed
Assiduous
Dedicated
Determined try
Doing a lot of hard work
Diligent
First long story read to the end
Good effort
Good try
He/she's framing him/herself
Indefatigable
Indomitable
Inexhaustible child
Intent
Keeps trying hard
Made a good effort
Maintaining
More willpower to succeed
Nearly read the whole chapter
Needs no nagging to read now
Non-stop reader!
Persevering
Persistence greater
Puts all his/her effort into it
Putting a lot of effort in today
Reading big words today
Really trying
Resolute
Staying the course well
Sustaining interest
Tackling hard words
Tenacious
Tireless
Tried very hard
Undaunted
Accurate (more)
Attention to punctuation better
Careful
Competent
Controlled reading
Did well to remember long words
Discriminates words better
Efficient
Errors fewer
Even less mistakes
Exact reader
Faultless
Fewer slips
Flawless
Getting the knack
Got a lot of hard words right
Got no words wrong
Great improvement in pronunciation
Hardly any mistakes
Hardly got a word wrong
Hardly needed help
Immaculate
Impeccable
Infallible
Inspects words carefully
Little difficulty recalling hard words
Managed some tricky words
Memory better (for words)
Mistakes fewer
More accurate reading
No mistakes
Not a foot wrong
One hundred percent
Only got one or two words wrong
Perfect
Precise reading
Proficient
Pronunciation better
Reads even complicated words
Reads long words straight off
Recalling better
Recollects well
Registers every word now
Retaining more words
Sharp-eyed reader
Skilful
Studies very carefully
Taking more care
Thorough
Two pages with no mistakes
Asking more about meaning
Beginning to criticize books
Coherent when discussing
Conversation good
Delving into books
Discerning
Discussion good
Exploring books
Getting a feeling for words
Good comprehension
Good talk
Probes the meaning
Remembers 'story so far' better
Stopped a lot to discuss - good!
Taking more of the story in
Tries very hard to understand
Understanding more now
Understood hard words
Accomplished
Alert
Application better
Attention undivided
Beginning to correct him/herself
Careful
Clearer
Concentrating a lot better
Confident
Coping well
Determined
Diction better
Doubts self less
a Dynamic reader
Excellent choice
Expects failure no longer
Expression coming along nicely
Expressiveness improved
Faith in self evident
Fluency improving
Fluent
Getting in tune
Getting onto a harder book
Getting settled now
Good attack!
Graceful reading
Graphic reading
Has a go at hard words
Has stopped rushing
Hesitates much less
Keeping a steady flow
Keeping a steady pace
Lucid
Masterful
More expression
More variety in reading
Notices punctuation
Observant
Pacing better
Paying heed
Paying attention
Phrasing better
Professional
Reading harder words on own
Reading slower and better
Reads nearly all by self
Reads quite easily
Rhythmic
Ringing the changes in books
Sensitive reading
Signaling well
Smooth
Steadier
Stylish reading
Successful
Synchronized
Tackled the hard words well
Taking notice
Takes the initiative well
Trusts own ability
Undistracted
Versatile
Vivid reading
Achieved a lot today
Advancing
Beneficial
Best ever
Best yet
Better
Better every minute
Blossoming
a Breakthrough
Catching on to reading
Change for the better
Classic reading
Coming on a bunch
Coming on great
Coming on a treat
Coped well
Developing
Did very well indeed
Doing well
Finding book quite easy
Forging ahead
Full marks
Getting better all the time
Getting better bit by bit
Getting on
Getting on to harder books
Good improvement
Good today
Great improvement
Has never read as well
Has never read better
Improved a bit more
Improved vastly
Improving all the time
Improving every day
Improving immensely
Improving rapidly
Improving slowly
Improving - very quickly indeed
Making great strides
Making headway
Mastering reading
Nearly as good as me
No problems
Overtaking me!
Picking up
Picking it up well
Productive reading
Progressing
Progressing in leaps and bounds
a Purple patch
a Radical change
Reading beautifully
a Reading revival
a Reformed reader
a Rising reading star
Reading transfusion helping greatly
Showing promise
Showing results
Stretching ability
Taking off
a Transformation
Turned the corner
Twigging what reading's about
Very competent
Vintage performance
Virtuoso performance
Absolutely brilliant today
Admirable
Ace
Apprentice doing well
Astounding
At his/her best today
Becoming a super reader
Began very well
Brilliant (brill)
Champion
Congratulations
Contented
Coach is pleased
Commended
Couldn't have done any better
Creditable
Delighted with "X" tonight
Definite improvement
Did very well
Doing nicely
Doing smashing
Eleven out of ten
Excellent
Fabulous
Fairly good
Fantastic
Fine
First rate
Gets carried away!
Going very well
Good
a Good attempt
Good effort
a Good little reader
Good progress
Good reading
a Good start
Grand
Gratifying
Great
Happy session
Harmonious session
I am very pleased
I praised her a lot today
Ideal
Impressive
Jolly good today
Knockout
Lovely
Out of this world
Magic
Magnificent
Marvelous
Matchless
Miraculous
No problems
Pleased
Pleasing
a Positive effect
Praiseworthy
Read better today
Reading very well
Read this book well
Satisfied
Second to none
Skilled
Smashing
So good I had to praise him/her many times
Sparkling reading!
Splendid
Stupendous
Super
Superb
Superfine
Superlative
Ten out of ten
Terrific (Triff)
The tops
Tip top
Top quality
Top seed reader
Tremendous today
Well done
Well read
Wizard
World beater
Wonderful
Wonderwoman
Worthwhile
You are doing very well today
Zappy reading
Even with the help of this dictionary, you might want a change now and again. Instead of writing, try putting stars instead:
* average ** good *** very good
or use smiley faces - with different expressions to show: average/good/very good
or even give points:
1 = average 2 = good 3 = very good
Some readers like to add up their stars or points each week, to see if they can get more the next week.
If the 'reader' does get more the next week, they might like a little 'treat' for doing so well. The 'helper' has done well, too, so they should get a treat also! But no cheating!
If you go on with your reading for many weeks you might find that writing a comment just once or twice a week is enough. Do keep making a note of what you have read, though.
This Dictionary was made by looking through the diaries kept by lots of people in many different reading projects, and picking out the best words of praise they used. Thank you to all the children and adults who helped in this way. A big special thank you to the pupils of Gomersal Middle School, who did a lot of work in collecting and writing out praise words used during their peer tutor project.