HOW TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE MINDSET IN THE CLASSROOM

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in almost all education systems, the routines and practices that have been in place for decades have changed overnight. Education, which is based on human relationships, has been severely affected, as have the lives of millions of teachers, students, parents, and school principals around the world. B.D. Memorial School Kolkata knows that an open mindset in education helps us to adapt to the new context. 

The quality of teaching is determined not only by the "quality" of teachers - although this is very important - but also by the environment in which they work. Capable teachers will not necessarily reach their potential if they are not adequately supported or the challenges and rewards may not be enough.

As one of the best English Medium Schools in South Kolkata, we are aware that a key element in this equation is the well-being of teachers, a positive emotional state that combines the personal needs and expectations of both teachers and students. The teacher's well-being and job satisfaction strongly influence his behaviour and are positively related to the school climate, the classroom and the student's achievements. Research also shows a positive relationship between teachers' motivation and the performance and well-being of students but also in preventing school dropout. Teachers must receive the support they need to continue working in the best possible conditions.

The well-being of teachers cannot be achieved only by participating in workshops or training courses, it is a long-term process that requires reflection, a consistent approach, and the introduction and experimentation with more constructive practices. The concept of mindfulness applied in education has multiple benefits for both teachers and students developing empathy, improving attention, concentration but also communication and social skills.

At B.D. Memorial School Kolkata, teachers can tell when students are satisfied or not with themselves. When students feel good emotionally, they can achieve more in class. Think about yourself: the more confident you are, the more capable you will feel, regardless of the task. When a child feels capable and confident, they are easier to motivate and more likely to reach their potential.

Promoting empowering attitudes and building trust by preparing students for success and providing frequent positive feedback are key roles for teachers and parents. At B.D. Memorial, one of the best Schools in Garia Kolkata, we know how to develop and maintain positive self-esteem in our students.

Children need to have good self-esteem for several reasons, as it affects almost every aspect of their lives. Good self-esteem not only improves academic performance but also strengthens social skills and the ability to cultivate long-lasting, supportive relationships.

Relationships with their peers and teachers are most beneficial when children have adequate self-esteem. Children with high self-esteem are also better equipped to deal with mistakes, disappointments, and failures. They are more likely to perform challenging tasks and set their own goals. Self-esteem is a lifelong need that teachers and parents can easily improve, but also easily harm.

At the best English Medium School in South Kolkata, we know that comments received by children play a major role in developing self-esteem, especially when feedback comes from mentors. Unproductive and overly critical feedback can be quite detrimental to students and can lead to lower self-esteem. Positive and productive feedback can have the opposite effect. What children hear about themselves and their abilities influences their mentality about their value.

At B.D. Memorial, one of the top Schools in Garia Kolkata, feedback to children is goal-oriented rather than people-oriented. This type of praise is more effective, and ultimately more likely to instil in students a growth mindset or belief that people can grow, improve, and develop with effort (as opposed to a fixed mindset or the belief that people are born with fixed traits and abilities that cannot grow or change). We avoid attributing value to students with our comments. Statements such as "I'm proud of you" and "You're very good at math" not only are they useless, but they can also lead children to develop self-concepts based only on praise. Instead, we praise the achievements and draw attention to the specific efforts and strategies applied to the tasks. In this way, students perceive the comments as useful and motivating. We comment only on their work, especially the improvements. Here are some examples: "I saw that you used paragraphs to organize your writing, this is a great strategy" or "You've improved your writing, I know you've worked hard on it". When using goal-oriented feedback, we positively influence self-esteem and support a child's level of motivation to achieve academic goals.

Other than providing meaningful feedback, we know students need to have healthy self-esteem both inside and outside the classroom, but many children need help to cultivate positive theories. This is where our teachers come in to support students' self-esteem by focusing on the positive, giving only constructive criticism, encouraging students to find things they like about themselves, setting realistic expectations, and, teaching students to learn from their mistakes.

By following these tips, you will be able to realize how students are gradually improving their self-esteem and, therefore, their grades. A child, teenager, or adult who feels good about himself will also reflect this in his self-esteem.