In order to improve in a skill, children need to know exactly how they can turn their weaknesses into strengths 2. Children should only compare their current work to their own previous work-never to the work of their classmates or siblings. Competition may be stimulating for children with high competence, but it is paralyzing to children with low competence. For children who feel very low in competence, change will take time. It is most helpful to save samples of these children's work in a particular academic area or skill on a daily or weekly basis.
Children can then compare their current papers with previous work.
Finally, students with low competence must be shown progress in highly concrete terms. They must have evidence they are improving. Samples of actual work, tape recordings, or videotapes of the skill over a period of time is powerful. The student sees the growth.