Liz,
The nice thing about the clicker is it gives you more time to get the food reward to the dog. Of course it needs to be as instantaneous as possible to the click but you can actually gain a second or two once the dog understands the click means he did good and the food is coming. Because verbal praises and words vary from one time to the next, it takes longer for the dog to associate the cue and therefor the food needs to get there faster. You may use the same word each time, such as YES but the timing and the tone vary.

Once the behavior is shaped and the dog starts to understand I will click and give verbal praise with no food reward every other time. The objective is to get the dog to do the command without a food reward.

I am only telling you this because I was a rebel when it came to clicker training at first. Now I think it is the greatest thing to come along for dog training since sliced bread! The key though is consistency. Use it all the time. Not just at home and not just at class but everytime you train.

Check out this site for more information on clickers
clicker training website