Building Self-Esteem in Children

1. Building Self-Esteem in Children By: Tamika Brown Tamika.brown@smail.astate.edu

2. Build Self-Esteem By: • Establishing a positive atmosphere. • Setting realistic expectations. • Applauding the activity, not the child. • Creating cooperative learning situations. • Using mistakes as learning opportunities.

3. Establishing a Positive Atmosphere! • Positive Attitude! • Greeting Students! • Promote Positive Peer Interactions! • Interacting with students! • Getting to know the student! • Displaying Student’s Work! • Clear and effective rules! • Be a Positive Role Model! • Praise! • Encouragement! • Acknowledge their Presence! • Teach Positive actions. • Motivate students!

4. Set Realistic Expectations • Behavioral expectations. • Establish by asking students to identify how they like to be treated. • Respectful • Fairness • Kindness • Safeness • Encourage, do not frustrate! • Do not push! This will make children feel incompetent or unable to complete task. • Never underestimate the child’s abilities! • Do not limit child! Expect more instead of less!

5. Applaud the activity, not the child! • Use effective praise! • Attach the praise to an activity. • Students learn self-worth is measured by their behavior and actions; they also learn responsibility. • Effective Praise- Cindy, you did a great job placing the blocks neatly in the basket! • Ineffective Praise- Cindy, you did a great job!

7. Cooperative Learning Situations create: • Positive Interdependence • Builds incentive to help, accept help, and cheer for others! • Individual Accountability • Each member has their own task! • Positive interaction • Communicate by sharing or helping! • Social skills • Gain leadership skills! • Their work is acknowledged by group members as well as finishing product.

8. Two Types of Cooperative Learning Formal Informal “In-the-Moment” Less Lecture Time Non-assembled Short segments Last only during short segment • Routine Use • More Lecture Time • Already Assembled • At least one class period • May last for weeks

9. Using Mistakes as Learning Opportunities • Encourage: • Be Positive, not negative! • Explain! • Clarify! • Strategize! • Participation • Child might be wrong! • It’s OK to make a mistake! • Taking risks • Building self-esteem. • “It’s important for kids to feel that no one is going to make fun of them if they are wrong.” (Lorthridge).

10. Strategies To Build Self-Esteem • Rewarding Student Behavior • Use a Star Chart! • Use Tokens for Treasure Box! • High-fives! • Pat on the back! • Praise • Grant Special Privileges • Extra Computer Time! • Free Homework Pass!

11. Strategies to Build Self-Esteem • Establish a Healthy Relationship by: • Paying Attention! • Teaching limits! • Listening! Offering Empathy! • Getting to Know the child! • Providing Encouragement

12. How do you help build your students’ self-esteem? To build: To hinder: Compare one child to another. Establish unrealistic goals and expectations. Use sarcasm. Use ineffective praise. Scorn Hostile, Negative Classroom • Value each individuals. • Establish realistic goals and expectations. • Use positive reinforcement. • Use effective praise. • Encourage. • Positive Classroom

13. SOURCES • http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/health/795-teachers-formula.gs • http://www.phoenix.edu/forward/perspectives/2013/06/5-ways-teachers-can-build-self-esteem-in-kids.html • http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept08/vol66/num01/Seven-Strategies-for-Building-Positive-Classrooms.aspx • http://www.childdevelopmentpartners.com/8-ways-to-set-realistic-expectations-for-your-child-with-executive-dysfunction/ • http://www.cehd.umn.edu/research/highlights/coop-learning/ • http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/cooperative/group-types.html • http://www.ricklavoie.com/esteemart.html