Building Self-Assured Learners

Just as crucial as sound instructional practices is the ability of an educator to build self-confidence in students of all learning levels. When a teacher successfully builds self confidence, his/her pupils' overall ability to function in the classroom improves. This includes contributing in meaningful group work, taking risks with new skills, exploring new content, and making and maintaining positive peer relationships. All these things are components that are affected by how a person feels about himself. The act of developing and building self-confidence in each member of the class contributes to an overall positive classroom environment. 

1. Offer Both Verbal and Nonverbal Praise

Perhaps one of the most natural ways for teachers to nurture confidence is to provide consistent, meaningful praise. This can take shape in two forms, verbal and nonverbal:

• Verbally praising individuals in front of the rest of the class when a correct answer is given, a right choice has been made, or a gesture of goodwill has been extended toward another will usually have at least two repercussions. The complimented person gets a boost in self-esteem and the other class members tend to rise to the occasion, boosting their own behavior, choices, and attitude. Desired behavior has been modeled, and generally everyone begins to conform to that new model. 

• Nonverbal praise usually has the same effect. Nonverbal cues can include something as simple as a smile, a wink, or a pat on the shoulder. Obviously, the intended recipient receives the praise, but you would be surprised at how many other people see the gesture, and adjust their behavior accordingly. Praise, whether verbal or nonverbal, conveys to our learners that their contributions are valued.

2. Exhibit a Positive Teacher Attitude

As the teacher, keep a positive attitude toward all learners and lessons. Sounds simple enough, right? Teacher attitude is a major contributing factor to the classroom environment. If the teacher is frustrated, the classroom environment can become frustrating for students, which affects both learning and peer interactions. Demonstrating a positive attitude toward difficult situations and content not only helps to create an environment that is conducive for risk taking, but allows individuals to know that there are positive ways to deal with difficult circumstances or content. Admittedly, there are times when this can be easier said than done, but the reward of a positive attitude helps build trust, the knowledge that challenges can be met, and make sure that learning is a positive experience. Ways to keep one's attitude in check include keeping facial expressions and body language positive, as well as taking time to celebrate pupils’ contributions and efforts.

3. Create a Risk-Taking Environment

Following teacher attitude, creating a positive classroom environment that provides opportunities for risk taking is another factor in building confidence. A positive teacher attitude allows learners to feel comfortable to confront new material; however, extending that attitude to embracing risk taking will build students' thinking skills, problem solving skills, and confidence levels. Helping pupils realize that they have the ability to independently take a risk and try a new skill or test a hypothesis is a risk that only a confident person will take. Before students come to the place of risking failure, they need to be aware of what they can accomplish, where they can go to help themselves, and most importantly, to understand that feedback from failed attempts holds great value in the learning process. Helping kids to realize the value that can be gained from failure offers multiple learning experiences. Celebrate the fact that challenges were undertaken by your pupils, even if they did not succeed. Discuss and rejoice over what was discovered along the way. Learning is a journey of risks and this should be the premise that guides and builds your classroom's learning environment. What is the end result of taking risks and finding success in such a classroom? Simply said, the result is a learner who is continually developing confidence not only as a student, but as a person as well.