Sometimes, it is not the big things that make a child feel confident. Small daily actions from a teacher can make a child feel valued, capable and willing to participate.
- CALL THE CHILD BY NAME
Calling a child by name shows that you notice and recognise them. It can make the child feel important and connected to the class.
Example:
Instead of saying, “You there, answer the question,” say, “Daniel, what do you think the answer is?”
- ALLOW CHILDREN TO TAKE SMALL RESPONSIBILITIES
Simple responsibilities can help children feel capable and trusted.
Example:
Allow a child to distribute books, clean the board, arrange learning materials or help lead a simple activity.
- NOTICE SMALL IMPROVEMENTS
Do not wait until a child becomes the best in the class before acknowledging progress. Notice small steps forward.
Example:
“Last week, you could write only three letters correctly. Today, you wrote five. Keep going.”
- GIVE THE CHILD TIME TO ANSWER
Some children need a few extra seconds to think before responding. Quickly moving to another child can make them afraid to speak.
Give the child enough time to organise their thoughts and respond.
- PRAISE EFFORT, NOT ONLY CORRECT ANSWERS
A child who gets an answer wrong should still be encouraged for trying. This helps the child become more willing to participate.
Example:
“You tried to answer the question. Good effort. Let us look at it again together.”
- CORRECT WITHOUT EMBÁRRASSING THE CHILD
Correction is necessary, but the way it is done matters. Avoid making a child feel foolish in front of others.
Example:
Instead of saying, “You never get anything right,” say, “That answer is not correct yet. Let’s try it one more time.”
- CELEBRATE PROGRESS, NOT JUST EXCELLENCE
Every child may not be the best in academics, sports or other activities. Recognising personal progress can encourage children to keep improving.
Example:
“You used to be afraid to speak during activities, but today you raised your hand. That is a big improvement.”
Which of these activities resonated well with you and which of them are you going to put into practice?