Objective: If you can help students visualize themselves being successful, whether it is on a test, in a sport, playing an instrument, or getting an A, they are far more likely to be successful.
Instruction and Practice: The night before a big event or when a student is feeling down, help them envision success. Encourage them to picture success with all the details: where you are, who is with you, what you will be doing, what you will do well, and how you great you feel when you are successful. Adults can help a student who has difficulty doing this independently. Simply encourage them to close their eyes and take turns with them filling in the details. If adults hear a student going to a place of "what could go wrong", simply supply a positive detail of what could go right. Try not to be concerned if this breeds some over-confidence. What it is really doing is freeing the mind to try things you might otherwise fear and increases chances for success.
