Building Student Self Esteem
Strategies to Increase Self-Esteem and Motivation in students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder
Strategies that help increase self-esteem and motivation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), also known as attention deficit disorder (add).
This is a list of tips for teachers of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), addressing self-esteem and motivation. This is a particularly important area for students with ADHD and needs to be addressed as often as possible.
Strategies to Help Increase a Student's Self-Esteem and Motivation:
1. Build on the student's strengths.
2. Be aware of how and when you make criticism of the ADHD student. These students often have trouble with their peers and teacher criticism can make this worse.
3. Show faith in the student's ability to change.
4. Have students keep a good behavior diary where they record everything that they do right. Every so often, review with him/her what you have written. You could even write a list of what you like about that student and share it with them.
5. Help the student write a "Things I Like About Me" List. Make it a regular part of your interactions.
6. Make sure the child understands how ADHD affects him/her. Let him/her know his behavior is not always his fault. However, do not let him/her use it as an excuse either. It's an explanation, which means they must still face consequences for these actions.
7. Instead of saying "here" or "present" during attendance, have students state one positive thing about them. For example, a student might say "great smile."
8. Provide reassurance and encouragement.
9. Speak softly in non-threatening manner if student shows nervousness.
10. Look for opportunities for student to display leadership role in class.
11. Make time to talk alone with student.
12. Increase a student's confidence by starting each assignment with a few questions or activities the student can successfully accomplish.
13. On tests, intersperse easier questions with difficult ones to keep the motivational level high.
14. Seek to involve students in lesson presentation. It will increase the involvement of all the students in the class.
15. Alternate high interest subjects with those the student finds less stimulating.
16. Involve the student as a responder and thinker, not simply as a passive listener.
17. Reinforce differences in students by reminding them how a student who does poorly in math will be really good at English or science.
18. Create meaning in the classroom. Explain how new material relates to known material. Incorporate the student's interests into assignments.
19. Call parents to tell them when their child is doing well and not just when there is a problem. This is good for both parent and student.
20. Try to maintain a ration of four positive comments for every negative comment.
- Be as observant and diligent for good behavior as you are for bad behavior.
- You could even give out "Caught Doing Something Good" awards to students who are behaving.
For more strategies, check out other sections on homework, reading strategies, lecture rentention, testing and mathematics.
