Encourage Action with a more Self-Confident Student

Why should I do it:

Can improve the self concept and self confidence of an insecure student

Can help students improve their connection to and rapport with other students and their association with their class and place in it

Helps students to be more outgoing, expressive, and interactive

Can increase participation and volunteering

Can help students become more social and talkative

Can improve students’ mood and attitude

Provides students with a positive role model and correct behaviors to model and duplicate

When should I do it:

When a student seems withdrawn, isolated, or insecure

When students appear to have poor self confidence or self concept

When a student rarely participates or volunteers

With students who are not social or have difficulty talking to others

With students that do not seem to have friends or significant connections with other students

When a student seems to have trouble fitting in or finding their place within the class

With students apologize excessively or are unsure of themselves

How do I do it:

You can be subtle and suggest frequently that a certain student (who you know is confident) work with, play with, help, eat lunch with, assist, etc, a student who is less confident, isolated, withdrawn, shy, etc.

You may be more formal with the intervention and speak with a confident student, asking them to interact more and help another specific student to “come out of their shell”, participate more, be more confident and out going, etc

You may or may not choose to explain this to the less confident student

You may speak with the less confident, withdrawn, shy, etc, student explaining you would like them to try to work more often with another specific student (who you know is confident)

When choosing partners for assignments or choosing groups for projects, make a point to place less confident students with more confident students

Praise students frequently when they exhibit confidence

You may consider giving rewards, a note home, etc. for students who exhibit certain behaviors that relay confidence, like sharing something with the class, volunteering a certain number of times, etc.