Yesterday, I was talking to one of my clients, and she was telling me how emotional she is getting about her first grade daughter’s reading level. She said that when she got her latest test scores, she just burst out crying.
It got me thinking about the emotions of learning. When I taught elementary school, many children in my classroom were unable to learn at first, because they had so much going on in their lives that was more important. The turning point in their learning abilities came when they realized they could trust me and gained confidence in themselves.
From this experience, I will argue that there are 2 key factors to being successful in school (or really, any endeavor).
1. Self-confidence
Do you approach your assignments and papers with the knowledge that you can tackle any task? Self-confident people view difficult experiences as learning opportunities. What do you tell yourself about your skills and abilities? Does your internal voice say that you can do it, or shy away from difficult tasks? If you lack confidence in your abilities, get help by hiring a tutor or visiting your school’s writing center. Break assignments down into smaller tasks so that you can see what you need to do to be successful.
Remember that everyone is brilliant in different ways. Know yourself – where do your strengths lie? Can you apply them to assignments you find more difficult?
Finally, self-confidence grows from accomplishments. So if you are feeling badly about your abilities, fake it until you make it. Just keep working and know that when you complete assignments, you will not only learn more, but gain confidence as well.
2. Support from others
Do you have a teacher you trust, someone who always encourages you and knows you can accomplish any task? If not, seek one out. Get to know your professors; see if one of them can serve as your mentor.
Surround yourself with people who know how brilliant you are and who will help you achieve your goals. Are your f
In elementary education, we spend a lot of time focusing on our students’ emotional needs, but it seems to me that this focus is lost as students grow older. However, the older we get, the more complex our emotions become. We may be able to push them aside more effectively, but they can still greatly affect our success. Who hasn’t experienced an argument with a loved one followed by an unsuccessful day at work? Take time to nurture yourself. When you feel good, you will be much more successful.
