How to Teach Self Esteem
When it comes to self-worth or as some people call it "self-esteem", it’s something that can change in each of us, from day to day, not just in children - but adults as well. When it comes to self-esteem, as any top teacher in NJ will tell you, this is a "trait" that usually develops over time, from the time a child is born until they reach adulthood. Self-worth can be taught through a wide range of instances and situations and lack thereof. For instance, a child that does really well on a pop quiz may feel really proud of themselves, but a child that comes home to share it with their parents and the parent doesn’t care or is too busy to pay attention, may send a sense of less worth to a child. It can essentially damage their self-worth and their self-esteem. Chances are if you are a teacher you will also deal a lot with a child’s self-worth, and it’s important that as a teacher, you also teach self-esteem to your class. Here are a few ways of going about this in the classroom.
Gold Stars
Gold stars might seem like such a simple thing, but you would be surprised at how good "gold stars" are at building self-esteem in the classroom. Not only good gold stars, but you can use just about any type of a sticker to reward kids and allow them to feel a sense of accomplishment. you can also set up a board with every kids name in the class and if you have a small enough class, pick something that each child did during the week that was kind, nice, helpful etc. and put a star next to their name, etc. Kids can get gold stars or stickers for being helpful to other kids in their class, helping the teacher before, during or after class, making a nice gesture towards someone, etc.
Give Them Compliments
Getting a gold star is one thing, but being given a compliment is a whole other level of self-worth and it’s a great way to start building self-esteem from a younger age. Whenever possible, let your students know that they did a good job on a test, listened well, followed directions well, etc. Praise them and let them know you are proud of them and things they are grasping or learning in your class. Compliments should also be something that are paid at home by a child’s parents.
Goal Setting For Kids
Any teacher is going to tell you that setting goals for kids in the classroom is a great way to get them to create self-esteem and self-worth. It could be something easy like turning in work on time every day for a week or something more satisfying and challenging like raising their math, science or reading grade up a level from a C to a B. Goal setting can be as complex or simple as you need it to be, the point is to find something that the child can actually succeed at - not fail at. When a kid is trying to work towards a goal, it’s a good idea to praise them and compliment them along the way as they reach closer and closer to their goal. Make sure that you do this with ALL the kids in your class or some may feel a sense of exclusion, which is the opposite point of this!
Risks vs. Rewards
Most parents will tell you that when it comes to their kids there is a time to protect them and there is a time to let them make their own choice and see what happens. As long as the choices don’t put the child in danger and they are healthy choices, allow your child to make choices along the way - either at home as a parent, or in class as a teacher. In some cases, the child might not make the best choice possible, but allowing them TO make a choice, take a chance and either reap the rewards or take responsibility for them will help kids gain self-worth and self-esteem.
Gold Stars
Gold stars might seem like such a simple thing, but you would be surprised at how good "gold stars" are at building self-esteem in the classroom. Not only good gold stars, but you can use just about any type of a sticker to reward kids and allow them to feel a sense of accomplishment. you can also set up a board with every kids name in the class and if you have a small enough class, pick something that each child did during the week that was kind, nice, helpful etc. and put a star next to their name, etc. Kids can get gold stars or stickers for being helpful to other kids in their class, helping the teacher before, during or after class, making a nice gesture towards someone, etc.
Give Them Compliments
Getting a gold star is one thing, but being given a compliment is a whole other level of self-worth and it’s a great way to start building self-esteem from a younger age. Whenever possible, let your students know that they did a good job on a test, listened well, followed directions well, etc. Praise them and let them know you are proud of them and things they are grasping or learning in your class. Compliments should also be something that are paid at home by a child’s parents.
Goal Setting For Kids
Any teacher is going to tell you that setting goals for kids in the classroom is a great way to get them to create self-esteem and self-worth. It could be something easy like turning in work on time every day for a week or something more satisfying and challenging like raising their math, science or reading grade up a level from a C to a B. Goal setting can be as complex or simple as you need it to be, the point is to find something that the child can actually succeed at - not fail at. When a kid is trying to work towards a goal, it’s a good idea to praise them and compliment them along the way as they reach closer and closer to their goal. Make sure that you do this with ALL the kids in your class or some may feel a sense of exclusion, which is the opposite point of this!
Risks vs. Rewards
Most parents will tell you that when it comes to their kids there is a time to protect them and there is a time to let them make their own choice and see what happens. As long as the choices don’t put the child in danger and they are healthy choices, allow your child to make choices along the way - either at home as a parent, or in class as a teacher. In some cases, the child might not make the best choice possible, but allowing them TO make a choice, take a chance and either reap the rewards or take responsibility for them will help kids gain self-worth and self-esteem.