Children with low self esteem may talk negatively about themselves. Ban negative self-talk in your classroom, and help your students learn to speak positively about themselves with a creative activity. Provide poster board, construction paper, glue, scissors, paints and other art supplies to allow students to make a poster of positive self-talk. Require that each poster list a certain number of positive words or phrases that students can use about themselves. Encourage students to use creative writing and brainstorming to find words and phrases that have unique meaning to them. Give students time to present their poster to the class, and hang the posters in the classroom.
Help students make a portfolio to recognize their achievements for the year. At the end of the year, return all work that has been handed in to you; older students should be asked to preserve work throughout the year in a folder or binder. Ask your students to choose five items that represent their best work of the year. Remind students that the work they choose does not have to be perfect, but that it should represent their personal best. In addition, request that students write a short essay on what they have achieved during the school year. Provide folders and art supplies, and encourage students to personalize their portfolio.
Encourage your students to share what makes them special with a Me Presentation. Ask students to create a short presentation sharing a few of the things that they love and that they believe characterizes them. This project may be altered depending upon the subject you teach. For example, English teachers might ask students to choose stories or poetry that define them, while a music teacher might ask students to share a song. Let students be as creative as they wish, bringing in artwork or designing their own props. This activity will not only build students' self worth, but create a sense of community within your classroom as students learn more about one another and celebrate their differences.
Encourage self confidence by asking students to write a short autobiography. The autobiography should document special events and achievements, written in the student's own words in one to two pages. To give students an example, write your own short autobiography and share it with the class. Encourage students to write about family vacations, extracurricular activities, pets or whatever is important in their life or that makes them special. Encourage students to share their autobiography with the class.