SUPPORT THEM…TILL

THEY MAKE IT!

TIPS ON HOW TO INCREASE STUDENTS’ CONFIDENCE

Radu Monica Liana

Liceul Tehnologic Matei Basarab, Caracal
WHAT LACK OF CONFIDENCE LOOKS LIKE
IN THE CLASSROOM
A learner who lacks confidence might…

❖ give up easily when failing

❖ avoid to participate in learning activities
❖ mask their lack of confidence by misbehaving
❖ demonstrate low frustration tolerance
❖ avoid new things, activities they haven’t tried before
❖ experience Imposter Syndrome
❖ blame themselves for every failure
❖ hide their struggle
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
Here are some tips…

❖ set up realistic expectations

❖ avoid overcorrection
❖ avoid peer comparison
❖ provide constructive feedback
❖ celebrate small learning victories
❖ cultivate a positive mindset in the classroom
❖ praise effort, not only achievement
❖ encourage students to practise reflective learning
LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
Here are some tips…

❖ PRACTISE WHAT YOU PREACH

❖ BE GENUINE
❖ BE SYMPATHETIC
❖ BE KIND
❖ SMILE
EDUCATIONAL
COACHING

● approach centered not on academic achievement, but on

teaching students how to learn, how to identify their
goals, their strengths and weaknesses
● supports students to learn and develop, academically and
personally
EDUCATIONAL COACHING - TOOLS
1. MANDALA

❖ GRAPHIC/VISUAL REPRESENTATION IN COLLAGE

FORMAT
❖ TEACHER PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A TEMPLATE
(PIECE OF CARDBOARD OR DIGITAL FRAME)
❖ STUDENTS USE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM
MAGAZINES/THE INTERNET TO REPRESENT A VISION
OF THEIR OWN FUTURE, THEIR DESIRES OR GOALS
 VISION
Goals, wishes LEARNING
(What I want to achieve, What I need to learn to
what I want to study in the achieve my goals
future) (skills, attitudes, resources)

OBSTACLES SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL
(UNLEARNING) What makes me happy,
Things that limit myself, my people who support me,
weaknesses what gives me strength
2. Happiness Jar
How to use this
technique?
● prepare a jar, a set of cards/small pieces of paper and give
each student a card/paper
● provide students with a question to answer
● collect answers using the jar
● you can use this tool every week/once a month
● keep all the answers
● at the end of the semester/year return them to each
student (in an envelope) and add constructive feedback,
pieces of advice.
1. What aspect of teaching do
you find more rewarding?
If you support
students, they will
make it!