Many parents encourage high self-esteem in their children—and they should! Self-esteem is how favorably a person regards him or herself. However, studies show there is actually little to no correlation between self-esteem and academic performance.
Boosting confidence, on the other hand, can make a lot of difference. When it comes to academic performance, confidence is a much stronger predictor of success than self-esteem. While general confidence refers to a person’s character or personality, academic confidence more closely resembles a perceived ability to accomplish a set of tasks.
Studies have found consistent and enduring evidence that academic self-confidence–confidence in one’s academic abilities–is a significant predictor of academic performance.
How do we boost our student’s academic self-confidence? According to Academic Coach, Rob Stone, “Academic confidence, or developing an ‘academic identity,’ is all about advancing student growth through increasing degrees of self-reliance and self-discovery. The more we can give students both the tools and the encouragement to stretch beyond their current limitations, the more we empower them to thrive independently and find joy in learning.”
Students with high self-esteem may be overly sure of themselves but perhaps lacking in confidence. Students who commit to doing the work are usually confident of their abilities, independent thinkers, and self-reliant.
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