The dusty path

Andy, unfortunately I don't have a connection to your Panoramio stalwart.:( As for the "nicely done" I really don't where/when I picked up that term but I do use it a lot as you have noticed. I do remember using it a lot in my classroom with 7 year old children . "Nicely done young man (young lady" just seemed to be a phrase they connected with. (I spent 30 years in a classroom so I know it's been a long time term that has stuck with me. I still use English phrases and words and that is from my mum. As I've gotten older, I find those words coming to the forefront more & more often. :)

Hi Chris! Very interesing!
I knew that any connection with Keepclicking was likely to be a complete long shot, but you never know! I thought it was worth an ask anyway!
I use it with my students too, alongside; "That's more like it!" when the penny drops at long long last!
As I've got older I do the same ... and I find the differences between British English and American English fascinating (gotten / got, etc etc!)
Did you ever see the famous Ted Talk by Sir Ken Robinson entitled "Does school kill creativity"?. It's getting on a bit now (2006) but just as relevant today and I see that it is the most popular Ted Talk of all time (well it is very funny too!). I'll add a link if I can find it.
www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity?language=en You probably know this anyway!
Best wishes,
Andy

Im glad you did ask Kenny ... it would have been nice if there were a connection really. :) I'll check out the link. I have to agree in many ways that school may kill creativity. With all of the emphasis on "testingl" that is done here, teachers have to make sure the students not only have an understanding of the concepts being tested but they all so have make sure they know how to take a test. (that's awhole different topic in of it's self). That really leaves very little time to let the students creativity flurish with all of the wonderful situations you can provide for that growth, and that is tragic really. I still miss my young students but I do not miss the politics of education. The other phrase I often used was: "I knew you could figure that out, good for you!" As you know already, students can easily see through phony praise . Best wishes Andy. Cheers my friend.

Gravel is also bad on a steep path, Poly but this is fine dust - possibly even worse! Yes the walks here and the views are definirely worth it! Many thanks!