How can you encourage a student who lacks confidence and inspire him or her to learn?
The interviewer wants to know about your interaction with students, mainly how you work with students who find the traditional educational setting to be a challenge. Demonstrate to the interviewer that you're able to be patient and encouraging to students no matter their confidence level.
"One of my students scored well above his average on his test and was lower-level than the rest of the class. He was discouraged to see his score, but when we went through his score report together, we established a realistic goal for a 2-point improvement for the next test. I never asked him how many questions he got wrong, but rather, how many he got right, as he missed more than half the page. We only celebrated when he got another question right, and I always made sure to check with him that he did his best. At the end of the two-month course he made the average score and reached our target, and he was slated and signed up for more tutoring classes to keep pulling up his score."
"When a student lacks confidence I would take the time to show them the areas where they excel and encourage them to do more of that. Often, a student will learn a bit differently than the next, and it's important that a teacher embraces and encourages those differences."
"Every student needs an extra boost of confidence now and then. My encouragement as a teacher shifts on a daily basis. I want my students to feel like they can take over the world! For that reason, I incorporate a 'kudos' system in my classroom. At the end of every day, we get into a circle, and each student has to give a compliment to the student to their right. This activity ensures that every student leaves feeling on top of the world, no matter what their inner voice was telling them that day."
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Anonymous Answer
Reassuring that student that he/she can learn and grow and providing positive support to that child.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is a great technique to share! This question is critical, and the interviewer is looking for an in-depth response, so if you can, spend some more time sharing strategies that you use in this scenario. Consider aspects like focusing on their positive attributes and strengths, giving constructive criticism, encouraging students to identify their positive traits, and teaching students to use failures or mistakes as learning opportunities.
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