The Role of Teachers in Building Confidence in Students

There’s no secret that teachers play a big role in shaping students’ lives. Even though they’re busy teaching mathematical equations in an English lesson, unknowingly they’re provoking those little minds to start believing in themselves.

Even if it may feel like pulling teeth to insist a child speak up in the class. Beyond the knowledge teachers give, they also play an important aspect when it comes to building confidence in students to help them face the complex societal landscape with courage and the belief that they can cope with almost anything. 

Of course, confidence doesn’t come in a ready-to-eat form; it is what takes time to grow stronger with practice and experience. And no one could be in a better position than teachers to flex this trait.

Read this article to learn how teachers play an important role in building confidence in students.

According to the American Psychological Association, children with high levels of self-confidence have a higher chance of taking on challenges and handling criticism. The reality is—without confidence, even the smartest kid can be overshadowed.

Statistics show that kids who have confidence are 31 percent in better favor of succeeding in the long run than those who lack.

Confidence is beyond boosting grades at school. Instead, it impacts every aspect of a student’s life—from social interactions to future career choices. 

But how do teachers exactly go about instilling confidence in the students?

Here are some of the most effective ways a teacher can develop confidence in kids.

Confidence doesn’t come when things are right all the time. It also comes with knowing that even when things go wrong, it’s not such a big thing. As a teacher, one of the best gifts you can give the students is the opportunity where mistakes are accepted and instead seen as a ground of new learning.

The key is to let the students know that failure isn’t fatal but a feedback and a chance to try new things without the crippling fear of messing up. Teachers can sow the seeds of confidence by showing that getting wrong sometimes is completely okay.

A compliment is what can really boost a student’s confidence. And personal praise can do it even better. After all, kids are smart enough to know when a compliment is genuine or generic. So, instead of keeping the compliments restricted to ‘You’re smart,’ add a personal touch and try saying, ‘I loved how you solved the problem even though it was tough! This persistence will take you far.’

This individual parise will not just aid in taking the student’s confidence to the next level but also encourage them towards a growth mindset.

Confidence is not just restricted to students who hear praise from others. But it is also in the ones who know how to recognize their own strengths. Self-reflection is another approach that gives students the opportunity to address their progress and realize how good they’re at something.

Encouraging self-reflection among students could be as easy as little moments of self-acknowledgment over time or after a test.

There’s nothing better than some jokes to infuse a breath of fresh air in the tensed class. A little humor plays a significant role in lighting up the mood and making learning feel a little more engaging. 

After all, failure isn’t a reason to hide, but a reason to keep putting in the efforts.

Want scientific backing? 

According to research, laughter reduces stress and increases feelings of social connectedness, which is directly related to confidence in kids.

Teachers are not only there to hand out homework but also life lessons and values that come up in classroom interactions, motivation, and occasional PJs. The ultimate key to developing confidence in students is—giving genuine praise, acceptance for failure, and self-reflection.

In the end, no one remembers every single math formula after walking out of the class, but the teacher who believed in them!