ABSTRACT
Because school is a big part of children’s lives, so is classroom achievement. It’s no secret that within each classroom there is a range of abilities, with about 50% of students performing in the average range, 25% performing better than their peers, and 25% struggling to keep up. By about the second grade, kids also start to recognize and care about how they are the same or different from their classmates, and they compare themselves to their peers to learn about themselves and the world. This means that when they struggle to succeed, it can feel even worse if they are also aware that they find themselves in the bottom of the grade pile. Unlike hobbies, where if you don’t have natural talent or interest you can move on to another, school is a non-negotiable – and for a long time. Therefore, when kids struggle with performance, it’s important to help them work through the associated emotions so that they don’t end up with low academic self-esteem or low motivation. If you are reading this and thinking to yourself: “Too late! My kid already hates school/thinks he’s stupid” – don’t despair. These strategies can help to turn the ship around. Bad feelings fuel low academic self-esteem and low motivation. When we can help kids move through feelings like frustration, shame or sadness, they spontaneously feel better about themselves and school.
