Confidence

To help students increase their confidence it is important to praise them.

How you praise them is just as important.

If you praise them for their intellect or physical ability, what happens if they start to feel they are losing that characteristic?

If you praise them for their effort, the perseverance, the improvement (which is what they actually did) they can do these things even in difficult situations. This sets them up for success in spite of their circumstances.

I researched two books on this subject.

How to NOT talk to your kids  Carol Dweck

How to Talk  Faber, Mazlish

I also tell my students to NEVER EVER GIVE UP! It's a motto I'm using this year.

The Texans (football team) won a game in the last 2 minutes of the game. The next day I asked my students - What did the Texans do to win the game? They all rolled their eyes and said the motto. At least they said it!

Self esteem

So after reading several articles about increasing/ fostering self esteem in the classroom several simple strategies seem to be mentioned over and over again. 
1- Give students specific praise - this should be done in front of the class as well as individually
2- Make random calls to the students home to praise what they are doing in class
3- Post students work around the classroom or in hallways
4- Put positive post-it notes around the room - make them specific to students randomly
5- Greet all students at the door.
These all seemed so simple, basic, routine - and what many of us do already.
Another strategy I cam across was using self - affirmations.  Making a list of qualities or attributes you know you have and believe are valuable. 

Establishing music culture in the classroom

Northbrook orchestra program is moving in the directions to establish the music
culture education that is appropriate for all students in the classroom.
Students were approached to diversity style, music area, composers, music history, instrument techniques development and performances. Creating the instrument practicing ethic, participating in all sectionals and rehearsals after school, is challenge for all orchestra students that we will have to work for the coming months.

Self advocacy and Reflection

Self advocacy is knowing: who you are, your strengths, your weakness.  Also, knowing what you want, what you need, and how to get what you need.

As others have posted, i also use many of the tools that others use: calling students by name, being a community where everyone counts, letting students learn by failing are a few of them.

Confidence through the Individual

In the choir classroom it is important to create an atmosphere where they feel safe to sing alone.  I've worked hard to build up students through individual interaction.  I explained how much I need them to model and demonstrate for the other students.  This had the greatest effect in giving them the confidence to sing for themselves.  And the class sings better and more confidently after the individual sings.  My goal is to eventually help all the kids to feel confident to sing by themselves in class.

Culture In Progress

In my classroom I am currently changing the classroom culture.  When we were charged with examining what our classroom culture looks like I didn't necessarily like what I saw.  I did not like being driven to the point of anger by my students behavior, so I made the decision not to get angry.  I no longer elevate my voice and what I have discovered is that the students will reduce the volume of their voices to match mine.  This has cause a tremendous shift in my attitude, in the students attitude, and thus the overall culture of my classroom has changed.  This began a conversation with another teacher about how classroom culture is something that is created and if the teacher is not intentional about their culture the students will create the culture based off of previous experiences because that is their default setting.  There are many aspects of my culture that are in the changing process, and I am excited about how these changes will impact  student learning as the year progresses.

Classroom Culture with Respect

One of the things that I try to incorporate into my classroom culture is respect. Students are to address any adult that comes into the classroom as "ma'am" or "sir". I also address them as such. Students are also taught to listen (not talk) while someone is talking in the classroom, whether it be myself or another student. They are reminded to show respect to fellow classmates and teachers throughout.
I believe that respect is something that many students have lost, no matter their socioeconomic situation.