Quick Ideas for Building Self-Esteem

Establish a learning atmosphere that is flexible, spontaneous and relaxed.

Emphasize the student's best work.

Communicate praise realistically; don't overdo it so that it becomes ineffective.

Emphasize learning strengths; de-emphasize learning weakness.

Provide immediate feedback within a positive framework.

Select materials that are age/stage appropriate and present them in a correspondingly appropriate manner.

When possible, design assignments to be open-ended, allowing for creative, individual approaches to task completion.

Create learning situations in which attributes not generally measured on tests can be developed: goal setting, ingenuity, drive and determination, resourcefulness, and effective interpersonal skills.

Allow plenty of time to complete tasks and do so without making the student feel self-conscious.

Break assignments into small segments, establishing a more immediate sense of accomplishment.

Reinforce improvement; have the student record progress on a chart so that he/she has tangible evidence of success.

Communicate to the student that you believe he/she will be successful at each task.

Tune in to what interests the learner through discussions and attentive listening.

Help the student learn how to communicate his/her strengths and weaknesses to friends, family, co-workers, and supervisors.

Encourage the students never to use learning disabilities as an excuse for not doing his/her best.