All students have two questions when they enter any classroom:
(1) Will I fit in?
(2) Will I succeed?
Two ways to empower students so that their responses will be in the affirmative are:
(1) Start the class by having students share the name they would like to be called and have them share one personal thing about themselves. It can be a hobby, a special interest, how they enjoy spending their time, a favorite movie, a special song—anything that others in the class can relate to about each student.
(2) Start any assignment or any test that is EASY so that the students’ self-talk becomes, “I can do this!”