Problem

Many of the students I teach have very low self-esteem. They don't think much of themselves and have little confidence in their ability to learn or do anything. Some are just waiting to drop out.

Student Name	How does this problem relate to what we know about learning?	Cite your sources.	Given what you know about learning, how might you resolve this problem?
De Lyce Schlepphorst	The cognitive approach to teaching suggests that students master a concept when it is presented through meaningful learning. Meaningful learning focuses on how learners can best learn to understand and use information.	page 103, The Art of Teaching	When my students are being exposed to a new concept I will use the technique of scaffolding to teach them. It will provide these low self-esteem students with the support they need so that the concept makes sense. We will begin with an easier concept and then move to a more complex one and I will scaffold the learning and provide support so that they will be successful in learning the idea and their self-esteem will increase as well. They will be more confident to learn the next step or a more complex problem!
Pat Freeze	By saying that some are just waiting to drop out shows the teacher has low expectations for the students. Self-esteem generally declines with adolescence, except with black students who continue to have high self-esteem. Better school performance is related to increased self esteem. There should be a balance between building self-esteem and reality. If the students are from homes where parents are not firm, loving and respectful, they may be considered disengaged, and just going through the motions of school.	The Art of Teaching, Ch. 3, p. 53, para 3. The Art of Teaching, Ch. 3, p. 61, para 2 The Art of Teaching, Ch. 2, p. 40, para 2	I would have higher expectations for the students. I woul communicate that I expected them to graduate and wouldhelp them set goals. The students need to know someone cares. I would assist students as they consider who they are. I would try to help them accept their appearance. I would assist them in exploring options for careers while setting realistic goals. I would clearly state the goals for each lesson and offer praise where effort was put forth, and offer encouragement and help where there was less effort or a lack of understanding.
Daphne Dildy	The Humanistic approach to teaching has to do with teaching positive feelings about ourselves and others which will inherently enhance academic achievement. The higher the self-esteem of our students ,then the better they will perform out of self confidence and motivational level.	Ch4 Pg. 94, The Art of Teaching,Beliefs of Humanistic School PPRCh3.pg 61, par 1 PPR, Ch2,pg 25 Highlight2.1	When my students enter my classroom I feel that it is necessary to show them that I care and believe in them and their academic abilities. The students will then start to see their own abilities and be able to develop them with my help, thus eliminating the sense of worthlessness. Students that feel they can achieve will achieve!
Kathryn Kraus	These at-risk students are suffering from low self-esteem. We kow that emotionally safe classrooms affirm "students' accomplishments in noncomptetitive ways, encouraging self-confidence, providing opportunities to take risks without penalty, and giving thoughtful feedback." We also know that if students are "affected by circumstances that can torment childhood they are at substantial risk of school failure and dropping out." The Humanists teach us that "having good feelings about oneself is essential to positive personal development and may enhance academic achievement."	C: Mod. 5, p. 94, Creating an Emotionally Safe Classroom Environment. PPD: Ch. 2, p. 35, At Risk Children. PPD: Ch. 4, p. 94, Beliefs of the Humanistc School.	Creating an inviting classroom where the teacher knows all learners' names, conferencing individually with students to get to know them better, showing respect for all students unconditionally, and being sincere and honest would be necessary first steps in creating a safe classroom environment. Letting students get to know one another through ice breaker or other cooperative activities would also be helpful.
Michelle Hill	(1) Children are more likely to succeeed if they feel they are in control of their own destinies and (2) acadamic success is more likely if a student has a good feeling about oneself. (3) Children need to be motivated (dedicated to and engaged in learning) and encouraged to learn. This will increase their self-confidence. (4)Children can also be motivated and are more likely to pay attention by enhancing their interest in what is being taught. (5) Students also need to witness thier own success. This will help with their self-confidence.	(1) PPR - The Act of Teaching, Chapter 3, Page 52, Paragraph 4 (2) PPR - The Act of Teaching, Chapter 4, Page 94, Bullet 2 (3) CD - Session 12 "Session Overview," Page 206 (4) PPR - The Act of Teaching, Chapter 4, Page 88, Bullet 2 (5) CD - Session 12 "Expectations for Success: Can I Do This?", Page 207	I would work to resolve the problem the same way whether the student was from a high or low SES. I would help create a sense of efficacy or "the sense that they can control their own destinies" in these students. I would do this by setting high expectations for them, motivating them through encouragement and connecting ideas to make them more interesting, providing a variety of activities and by making the information relevant to their lives. I will also create opportunities for students to experience success in the classroom as an effort to increase their self-esteem.
Carri Gregory	A child's low-esteem and lack of confidence can be contributed by a number of factors. The child might not have fully developed their social skills with other students. This lack of social skills can contribute to low self-esteem and lack of confidence. The Humanistic belief states that "school and classroom environment must help youth satisfy such essntial human needs." The is also true for social relationships with other students.	PPR., Ch.3, pg. Psychosocial Development. PPR., Ch. 4, pg. 95, Beliefs of the Humanistic School.	A teacher needs to encourage a student to interact with their peers. That encouragement can start on the first day of school, when each student introduce themselves to the class. The teacher should create an inviting classroom for the student, which should help to increase a student's self confidence and self-esteem.
Brenda Hebert

Behaviorist’s theory states that self-esteem develops via interactions with the environment. If we are praised, it goes up and if we are criticized, it goes down. Meanwhile, Constructivists (Piaget) says our self-esteem develops along with our cognitive development. The humanistic school holds amongst its core beliefs that having good feelings about oneself is essential to positive personal development and that I may enhance academic achievement.
Based on Erickson’s theory (industry versus inferiority) it would appear that these students might not have had enough success in school, whether because of harsh teachers or rejection by their peers and because of this, they’ve developed a sense of inferiority or incompetence.

CD; Module 5 page 12 CD; Module 5, page 14 PPR; Ch. 4, pg. 94, bullet 1

I would do my best to try and identify the causes for their low self esteem and provide emotional support for them. I think it’s important they learn that they are valued and cared for and that they experience success in order to feel better about themselves. They also need to know that they are in control of their lives and their destinies and can succeed if they so choose. I would offer them many opportunities to talk and share their personal experiences and also challenge them to talk about their dreams for the future and help them make plans for accomplishing them. I believe it would be beneficial to teach this class about the concept of multiple intelligences and help them identify in one another, their multiple intelligences. I also think it would be worthwhile to have each of them complete the following sentence about each of their classmates: “What I like best about (classmate’s name) is_” . I would then collect what each student wrote and compile a list for each student of the comments their classmates recorded and give it to them in some form – perhaps on paper and also in a frame to display within the classroom. I think that for children as well as adults, it is always easier to believe the negative things about oneself rather than the positive things. Having this list in their possession or displayed within the classroom could serve as a wonderful reminder of the value each of us have in the eyes of others and perhaps one day, in their own eyes.
Rebecca Ayers
As with emotions learning can be directly related to self esteem. In order to succeed in academics a student must have successful academic experiences (PPR, Ch 3, Pg 61, and Psychosocial Development). When a student has successful academic experiences it can generate motivation. Motivation is enhanced when the student feels capable (CD, Module 11 Lessons for Life, pg 192).

To help this student it is important to transfer learning to build confidence. It is also important to make learning meaningful and authentic so students and relate it to their real word. (PPR Ch4 Pg, 91 Authentic Learning). Through teaching techniques such as scaffolding I can breakup bigger ideas in to smaller ideas so that it is easier for the students to understand. If the information is broken into more manageable concepts then the student will have an easier time organizing their thoughts and making connections (PPR Ch4, Pg 92, and Scaffolding). It is also important to tap into the different students different learning styles. I would observe how each of my students process information and problem solves, then create lesson plans that would allow my students to approach the new information though multiple points of entry. I would also provide them with models and examples and positive feed back (CD Module 4 Different Kinds of Smart Pg 77-78 Multiplier Intelligence in the Classroom).

Michael Sanchez	The humanistic school of thought believes that having good feelings about oneself is essential to positive personal development and may enhance academic achievement. One method of approach we have been given in this School of Thought is the Inviting SchoolSuccess.	The Art Of Teaching Page 94, Bullet 4; Page 95, Bullet 4; Page 95 Paragraph 2	In order to solve this problem I would develop lesson plans that would give the student the opportunity to display areas the student is successful in. I would also be sure to continuously encourage the students, as well as developing an atmosphere where the students encourage each other. I would be able to do this through the inviting school success. I would make it a point to (1) know learners' names, (2) have individual contact with each student, and (3) continue to show them respect. Furthermore I would allow the students to engage in small groups. This would help the individual be able to gradually begin to open up in the classroom as a whole.
Andrew Lawrence	Learning can be effected by several factors. We learned in Chapter 3 of The Act of Teaching that students have "Developmental Differences". It states "One trait that educators deem crucial to healthy personality is self-esteem" but continues "although high self-esteem may be healthy, it does not by itself translate into better school academic performance... Improvement in learning is more specifically related to self-esteem as a learner, and that seems only to result from actual improved academic performance" (1). If we follows the Humanistic school of thought in Chapter four of The Act of Teaching, we understand that learning is effected by "Having good feelings about oneself is essential to positive personal development and may enhance academic achievement" (2) and "The classroom environment must help youth satisfy such essential human needs as personal safety and security, love, belonging, and achievement" (3).	(1) PPR, Ch.3, p.61, para 2. (2) PPR, Ch.4, p.94, para 5. (3) PPR, Ch.4, p.95, para 1.	I would use the humanistic approach to solve this problem in my classroom. I would create a lesson plan that had choices for completion. The Act of Teaching states, "The school should be made to fit the child rather then the child made to fit the school" (PPR, Ch.4. p.94, para 5). An example of this would be to ask the student to solve a problem and present the answer to that problem as a written report, oral report, or demonstration. Allowing the student to choose a method of completion gives them control of their learning. The control creates a comfortable, safe environment for them to thrive.
Rosalina Trujillo	The cognitive approach states we should use authentic learning to make knowledge more meaningful for our students since it connects students with real worl experiences. Authentic learning will bring out students interests and have them engage more to what is being learned. Also, we have learned that we need to follow the Humanistic school of thought because it is important to communicate to learners that they are responsible, able, and valuable. Teachers need to be positive and believe in our students capacity and potential. Negative thoughts can be transmitted and students can pick up that the teacher believes they are not going to be successful. As teacher we need to help learners build respect for themselves and others and make them feel a sense of efficacy ans self-worth.	pg. 91 para 2 Pg. 95 para 3 and 4 Pg. 94 para. 2	As a teacher I would not be as negative as this teacher. These students probobably pick up on her negative assumptions. I would be very positive and try to engage them into the classroom by giving them real world ideas of what is being learned. Also, getting to know our students' interests, and having them learn about us as teachers and as persons may bring them closer. connecting with students is essential to get positive feedback from them. Moreover, the classroom environment should not be tense and stressful rather fun, comfortable, and promote a sense of respect and acceptance.
Delores Hopper	The problem of low self-esteem and confidence may be approached using the humanistic school of thought. One of the core values of humanistic education is that academic achievement and healthy development are dependent on having good views of yourself and others[1]. Inviting school success and value clarification are two methods to increase a student’s esteem and confidence.[2]	[1] The Art of Teaching. Ch. 4, pg. 94, ¶7. [2] The Art of Teaching. Ch. 4, pg. 95, ¶3-4.	As a teacher, I would encourage my students by praising their efforts and work. I would also create an environment which would facilitate creativity and learning. I would send positive notes home to parents in hope that the parent would call attention to the fact their child is succeeding.
Delia Spicer	The Humanistic School of Thought addresses the issue of self-esteem and student success. Theorists believe that as a student's positive feeling about themselves increase, their posibility for academic success increases.	Act of Teaching, CH. 4, pg 94-95	I would treat the students with respect and build up their confidence.