Achievement behaviour in schools can best be understood in terms of attempts by students to maintain a positive self-image. For many students, trying hard is frightening because a combination of effort and failure implies low ability, which is often equated with worthlessness. Thus many students described as unmotivated are in actuality highly motivated - not to learn, but to avoid failure. Students have a variety of techniques for avoiding failure, ranging from cheating to setting low goals which are easily achieved. In Making the Grade, Martin Covington extracts powerful educational implications from self-worth theory and other contemporary views of motivation that will be useful for everyone concerned with the educational dilemmas we face. He provides a comprehensive, insightful review of research and theory, both contemporary and historical, on the topic of achievement motivation, and arranges this knowledge in ways that lead to imminently practical recommendations for restructuring schools.

Achievement behaviour in schools can best be understood in terms of attempts by students to maintain a positive self-image. For many students, trying hard is frightening because a combination of effort and failure implies low ability, which is often equated with worthlessness. Thus many students described as unmotivated are in actuality highly motivated - not to learn, but to avoid failure. Students have a variety of techniques for avoiding failure, ranging from cheating to setting low goals which are easily achieved. In Making the Grade, Martin Covington extracts powerful educational implications from self-worth theory and other contemporary views of motivation that will be useful for everyone concerned with the educational dilemmas we face. He provides a comprehensive, insightful review of research and theory, both contemporary and historical, on the topic of achievement motivation, and arranges this knowledge in ways that lead to imminently practical recommendations for restructuring schools.

Do some of your pupils suffer from low or fragile self-esteem? Perhaps you want to help, but don′t know how? If so, this book is for you. Using insights from theory, research and classroom practice, it provides strategies and techniques that will enhance the confidence of primary school children through authentic learning experiences. This book includes: -discussions on a range of issues surrounding self-esteem enhancement in school -studies of recent work in this area -links between self-esteem and the development of competence (fitting in with the Raising Attainment agenda) -research evidence from real primary classrooms -a clear articulation of strategies and techniques to use in classrooms -a summary and analysis of the key theoretical and empirical work in the area The book′s clear practical focus will be of interest to all teachers and managers keen to enhance self-esteem in their schools. It will prove equally useful for teachers in training and more experienced teachers undertaking further study. This book will empower you to develop your practice with a clear sense of direction - and with increased confidence. David Miller is Professor of Education at the University of Dundee. Teresa Moran is the Associate Dean (Education and Professional Development) at the University of Dundee.

First published in 1999, this volume strives to present an integrated account of how failure avoidance may be reduced. Ted Thompson asks: why is failure so aversive and why do people to almost any lengths to avoid it? This is a book about implications for organising the context of classroom learning: how teachers may interact with students on a one-to-one basis in ways which foster positive achievement gains, strategies for enhancing self-esteem and productive attributions for achievement outcomes. The book also deals with counselling implications and strategies for enhancing student achievement. Finally, practicalities are discussed including steps which may be taken to limit evaluative threat in classrooms, thereby limiting failure-[avoidance and enhancing student achievement.

Praise for the first edition: `The underlying philosophy of this practical book is that raising self-esteem in pupils (including dyslexics) will lead to achievement of higher academic results and fewer behaviour problems. This book is primarily for primary and secondary teachers but would provide much material for discussion among SpLD teachers, given the unexpected and controversial results of Denis Lawrence′s research′ - Dyslexia Contact `Many useful suggestions offered in this book about learning activities are likely to help pupils to feel better about themselves, to learn to respect others and to experience how feelings can be expressed safely′ - British Journal of Special Education Raising self-esteem in pupils can lead to the achievement of higher academic results and fewer behavioural problems. Outlining in simple terms what self-esteem is and providing strategies to support it in the classroom, this book includes clear explanations of the terminology and theory behind self-esteem, and lots of practical examples and useful activities for use with children. The book also covers the main issues surrounding the self-esteem of practitioners. It sets out tried-and-tested strategies that teachers can use to recognise and reduce stress and maintain their self-esteem. This new edition has been fully updated and now includes new case study material and activities.