2009-10-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

It wasn’t long after I began teaching in 1965, that I became aware of a significant difference in the students in my classes. This difference went beyond intelligence and good looks or good manners or study habits. There were those students who felt good about themselves, had high self-esteem, and those who felt bad about themselves. Those with high self-esteem took risks. They spoke up in class and demonstrated leadership qualities in cooperative learning groups. A child with high self-esteem will dare to be wrong, to make a mistake, or many mistakes in using different approaches to solve a problem. For it is through our mistakes that the greatest learning comes. Those with low self-esteem demonstrated a discouragement in themselves and their ability to learn. Children with high self-esteem have better peer relationships. They are assertive rather than aggressive or passive.

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