The Birchwood Project

Academic success should not be left to chance. We can plan for it. According to the work of Albert Bandura (Stanford University scholar and author of Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control) academic success is directly related to what children believe about themselves and their abilities (self-efficacy). In fact, self-efficacy is a greater predictor of academic success than intelligence and talent. Bandura cites four components that help shape self-efficacy.

First, children need a consistent history of academic success beginning at a young age. A positive history of academic success informs the child’s self-concept and self-worth. It is the work of parents and teachers to provide children meaningful academic challenges and then to help them with the work habits and attitudes that lead to success. Collaboration between home and school plays an important role in establishing levels of challenge and nurturing productive work habits.

Second, children learn habits of success from “vicarious experience,” that is, from role models in history, society and family. When we point out excellent role models, we are, in effect, inscribing visual images in the children’s minds that can speak to them long into the future.

Third, positive self-efficacy is nurtured in an environment that respects, encourages and rewards success. Parents and teachers should readily acknowledge and verbally award children’s efforts that lead to academic achievement. In effect, we should “catch” them working hard and then support their efforts with strengthening words. Furthermore, children should be among peers who value learning and support one another’s efforts to become successful.

Finally, Bandura notes, “people live in a psychical environment that is primarily of their own making.” Due to our emotional, psychological and even physical state, reality is often what we believe it to be rather than what it actually is. Productive people learn to engineer their internal conversations. Even at a young age children can learn how to manage their moods, attitudes and even physical condition (it is a physical challenge to sit at a desk and complete homework) so that they can focus their efforts toward academic achievement.

Teachers and parents should take academic success out of the hands of chance and place it on a path of design.

By Charles Debelak