Many times in my work as a School Psychologist I see students who are capable of doing the work, but their self-concept as not being a learner gets in the way of success.
Four ideas for teachers to help start students thinking of themselves as competent learners.
- Start with what they are doing well at academically. (Be specific and authentic)
- Ask the student what might be missing from your instruction that they need to be more successful.
- When a student has responded to corrective feedback, praise the student with specifics on how they helped to transform their learning and you are excited to keep watching them grow as a learner.
- Connect and talk to your grade level team and also support staff (Principal, Counselor, and School Psychologist) to get more ideas and tools to support your student in need.
Articles
Self-Concept and Self-Esteem in Adolescents (NASP)
Understanding and Fostering Achievement Motivation (NASP)
Student Self Esteem and the School System: Perceptions and Implications
Dr. Ken Shore’s Classroom Problem Solver -The Student With Low Self-Esteem
Self-concept and School Performance – UCLA
SELF-BELIEFS AND SCHOOL SUCCESS: SELF-EFFICACY, SELF-CONCEPT, AND SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT
Ideas to support students
Characteristic | How to support |
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Sense of security |
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Sense of belonging |
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Sense of purpose, responsibility and contribution |
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Sense of personal competence and pride |
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Sense of trust |
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Sense of making real choices and decisions |
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Sense of self-discipline and self-control |
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Sense of encouragement, support and reward |
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Sense of accepting mistakes and failures |
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Sense of family self-esteem |
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Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (2015). Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12. Available at:https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/Pages/Helping-Your-Child-Develop-A-Healthy-Sense-of-Self-Esteem.aspx
Source: https://www.virtuallabschool.org/school-age/self-culture/lesson-2
Course work
Complete Lesson on Building self-concept of school aged children
Video
Caregivers give their own examples on how to promote positive self-concept in children Video