Self-esteem, Language and Learning

Why is self-esteem important for children (and adults)?

• Low self-esteem is associated with:-
• Lower confidence
• Being self-conscious
• Being reluctant to join in
• Being oversensitive to critisism
• Underrating abilities
• Underachieving

Positive Reinforcement Triangle

• Child’s view of self
• Child with high self esteem

• Works well in
• school and receives
• positive reinforcement
• from adults

• Child’s self concept
• is enhanced

• Child behaves well
• and receives
• positive reinforcement

• Adult/child interactions
• mainly positive

• As teachers we have the responsibility to meet the needs of all children in our care and we do have the ability to go some way towards enhancing children’s self-esteem.

Negative Reinforcement Triangle

• Child’s view of self
• Child with low self esteem

• Does not work well in
• School and receives
• Negative reinforcement
• From adults

• Child’s self concept
• is eroded

• Child misbehaves
• and receives further
• negative reinforcement

• Adult/child interactions
• Mainly negative

Self Esteem and Dyslexia How can teachers increase self esteem in pupils with Dyslexia?

• Minimising the fear of disapproval/lack of understanding
• Minimising a fear of failure
• Minimising a fear of tests
• Minimising a fear of reading out loud

Self Esteem and Dyslexia

• The Feel-good Factor (1)
• 80% of learning difficulties could be due to stress
• Removing the stress leaves 20% of the
• problem
• We can work with that!

Self Esteem and Dyslexia

• The Feel-good Factor (2)
• When responding to questions or requests for help and guidance SMILE before answering
• Project the message
• ‘It’s OK to ask – I’m glad you did’