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Tips for Working With Students Who Are Overly Competitive

In today’s educational landscape, competition among students can often elevate the learning experience. However, when this competitiveness becomes overly intense, it can lead to stress, anxiety, and a negative atmosphere both in and out of the classroom. As educators and mentors, it is essential to cultivate a balanced environment that promotes healthy competition while minimising the detrimental effects. Here are some tips for working with students who exhibit overly competitive tendencies.

1. Foster a Collaborative Environment

Encourage students to work together on projects and assignments. Group activities not only help build camaraderie but also teach students the importance of collaboration over individual achievement. By combining strengths and skills, students learn that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of their peers.

2. Emphasise Personal Growth

Shift the focus from grades and rankings to personal development and mastery of skills. Encourage students to set individual goals based on their unique capabilities and interests. By highlighting personal achievements rather than comparing themselves to others, students may feel less pressure and competition.

3. Promote a Growth Mindset

Instil a growth mindset in your students by teaching them that intelligence and abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication. Celebrating effort and improvement rather than solely achievements discourages a fixed mindset where students might feel threatened by their peers’ successes. Encourage them to view challenges as opportunities for learning rather than as competitions to win.

4. Implement Fair Assessment Strategies

Utilising varied assessment methods can help to reduce competitiveness stemming from traditional grading systems. Consider using formative assessments, peer evaluations, or self-reflections alongside standard exams. By diversifying the way success is measured, students can appreciate the multifaceted nature of their learning journey.

5. Encourage Healthy Competition

If competition is to exist, make it constructive. Set up friendly competitions that allow students to collaborate while still engaging in a challenging context. Examples could include quizzes that require teamwork or extra-curricular competitions where collaboration is key to success. This way, students can channel their competitive spirit in a way that strengthens relationships rather than jeopardises them.

6. Teach Emotional Regulation

Incorporating social and emotional learning (SEL) into the curriculum can be transformative. Teaching students how to manage their emotions, particularly in high-pressure situations, can equip them with the skills they need to handle their competitive nature positively. Mindfulness exercises, stress management techniques, and open discussions about feelings can create a supportive atmosphere conducive to emotional growth.

7. Model Positive Behaviour

As educators, we must model the behaviour we wish to see in our students. Demonstrate collaboration, support for peers, and a genuine appreciation for everyone’s contributions. Share your own experiences with competition and how you learnt to value collaboration and self-improvement more. This transparency can encourage students to adopt similar attitudes.

8. Provide Constructive Feedback

When discussing performance, focus on providing specific, constructive feedback rather than simply praise or criticism. Highlight what a student did well and how they can improve in certain areas to become even better. This approach helps to shift the focus from a competitive narrative to a developmental one, which can mitigate feelings of rivalry.

Conclusion

While competition can often be a healthy motivator in educational settings, overly competitive students may require additional support to find balance. By fostering collaboration, promoting a growth mindset, implementing fair assessment strategies, and modelling positive behaviour, educators can create an environment that nurtures both achievement and student well-being. Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate learners who not only strive for excellence but also appreciate the value of community and cooperation in their educational journeys.

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