Self-esteem issues are becoming more prevalent among students. It often leads them to believe it’s better to try than fail. They never have to feel bad about themselves if they don’t put forth any effort. It is common for them to lower their struggles to protect their self-esteem. 

However, this can impede their academic success. It is becoming increasingly common for teachers to be aware of this issue, and they must guard against displaying these negative attitudes. For students to succeed, teachers must build self-confidence, influence their work ethic, and provide them with the necessary tools. Here’s how they can improve their confidence.

Promote Self- and Peer-Assessment

Giving students responsibility for assessments is undoubtedly a controversial topic among teachers. Even so, encouraging ownership of learning is a huge step toward building student confidence by empowering them to improve their own and others’ learning. The development, application, and reporting of learners’ assessments should be as student-centered as possible. 

Consequently, the teacher plays the most crucial role as the assessment moderator. Students are more likely to learn, understand, own, and be enthusiastic about learning when participating in a peer review. Furthermore, teachers may encourage students to use online assessment tools to access quality study materials like this civil engineering document to promote self-assessment.  

Positive Thinking

Have you noticed that people with low self-esteem focus on the negative more than those with high self-esteem? These people will probably tell you their weaknesses, their shortcomings, and what they have done wrong. It is essential to encourage them not to put too much pressure on themselves.

By setting a good example, you will encourage your students to forgive themselves for their mistakes and to appreciate themselves for their strengths. Doing so will teach them that good traits, rather than shortcomings determine self-worth. You don’t have to refrain from giving negative feedback if you focus on the positive. It just means you should give positive feedback more often than negative.

Provide Useful Feedback

The learning process isn’t meaningful unless you get actionable feedback for improvement. And that type of learning is ultimately pointless. Providing learners with consistent and appropriate feedback throughout their learning journey is essential. There is a dual purpose to this. The first benefit is that learners can learn from mistakes and feel they own their learning. Secondly, it builds student confidence well.

If you don’t get feedback for improvement, you only learn by compliance, which isn’t meaningful learning. Making complex concepts understandable is only one part of what feedback is all about. In addition, it is about helping a learner feel accomplished no matter how difficult the task may be. An individual should get excited about their potential when they receive feedback. Your learners develop this mindset as you build their confidence in the classroom.

Enhance Classroom Creativity

Make your classroom an environment where students can express their creativity. Introverted students tend to be more artistic, so they need to know this. Creative assignments, activities, and projects should be integral to the classroom environment.

If you allow your students to express themselves creatively, their confidence will soar! The freedom to express their creativity allows them to be true to themselves since creativity is a big part of their identity.

You can provide your students with the following opportunities to build their confidence:

• creating brochures
• painting
• creating posters and flyers
• drawing
• keeping a writing journal
• creating PowerPoint presentations on any given topic
• planning and performing plays

Break the mold and have them create something crazy creative to express their opinions on the topic you’re discussing in class, such as fake graffiti on vast pieces of bulletin board paper. Let them tell their unique perspectives on the issue by drawing pictures or writing phrases and words on paper. They could write an initial and sign their name beside their work. You can put the graffiti paper on display in your classroom or hallway.

Stay Positive

Students are most likely to fail in a negative environment. Positive attitudes, on the other hand, can turn around some of the most challenging classroom problems. Education circles are abuzz with a story about a teacher who struggled with ill-behaved students for part of the school year. After a few months, she discovered a paper with their IQ scores and found that they were exceptional! 

When the teacher raised her expectations, the classroom adjusted; she went to the principal at the end of the year; he congratulated her for her well-done job, confirming that the list she saw was of student locker numbers. Despite there being no way to verify this as authentic, the attitude is genuine: a positive teacher who expects many of her students will do much better than a negative one and allows their emotions to cloud their judgment.

Conclusion

Confidence in the classroom provides several benefits. Students can ask questions for clarification and pick up excellent study material whenever needed. On the other hand, teachers won’t push students to do their best. But with the above strategies, a student can improve their confidence effectively.