The poor little kid in grade one had already developed a 'failure identity.' It happened very quickly! (Part Three)

The following post has been taken from a chapter in my book; "When Learning is Hard, Students......."

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The child who struggles usually perceives their learning weaknesses in a negative way. Something is wrong with me and I am not good enough is a common self-explanation.

In a quick space of time when a child experiences ongoing failure in the classroom it is very normal to acquire an identity associated with failure. This is called a ‘failure identity’. It is a work related identity with learning the curriculum. Low self-esteem is common with children and learning difficulties.

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Whereas, children who have ongoing success understanding teacher lessons and successfully doing teacher activities develop what is called a ‘success identity’. These children are likely to have positive self-esteem. A positive point to make here is that a child who has low self-esteem with learning can have good self-esteem with sport or music etc.

Each child who finds learning hard makes choices. They choose to try to do the lessons or choose not to try. Some children are highly motivated to get the work done and to please the teachers, while other children choose to avoid doing independent work tasks. Wandering, talking and cracking jokes are much easier than sitting at desks struggling with the writing and doing sums.

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The following list has been put together to show four distinctive types of learners. The list needs to be viewed with a sense of humour, in the same vein that it was written.

Plodders
Plodders are generally happy to attempt work tasks without teacher support. They actively interact with task, persist and want to please. They are usually internally motivated and determined. This type of learner is confident to seek out teacher assistance support when needed. These children respond well to rewards. They present with levels of confidence and mixed in with their failure identity there is a success identity.

Sloths
Sloths are students who are dependent on teachers or teacher aides for completion of work tasks. They are mostly learned helpless and in many ways do not care. They are likely to possess a poor self-esteem and a low self-worth with learning. Sloths can sit quietly at their desks fiddling or daydreaming, or actively roaming around the classroom chatting and socialising when not being helped. Essentially these children are passive learners because they do not generally actively interact with learning.

Daredevils
Daredevils show open reluctance and disinterest with learning. They can respond to adult support and rewards. They can be non-compliant with teacher directions preferring to sit quietly pretending to work and or disrupting the learning of other students in the class. They are very good at roaming around the classroom socialising and talking to friends ignoring teacher requests to return to their desks.

Artful Dodgers
Art Dodgers are students who prefer to avoid learning in classrooms. They respond to teacher help and respond to some degree to rewards. Generally, they are students who have never liked school and there are children who are on the path of disengaging from school in the primary school years. Some parents give in to their constant pleas to stay at home enabling them to set up a pattern of non-school attendance.

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It is important to know that a failure identity can be general or specific. It depends on whether a child or teenager has strengths to feel good about outside the classroom.

For example, a child can have a failure identity associated with learning difficulties and a success identity associated with sport, drawing, music or dance. etc.

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The unconditional support and love of parents make a big difference to kids who have learning difficulties. They can make a positive difference on how kids see themselves.

Remember, giving kids accolades for effort boosts their ego, not giving into their want to stay at home is important, making sure they face consequences for avoiding work and letting them know your expectations on trying is a must.

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Cheers and blessings