8 Ways to Break the Chains of Learned Helplessness in the Classroom – Virtually I’mPossible Presents: Lazy Learning Land Teacher Podcast
Over the summer, I did something I swore I would never do. I created a TikTok profile. I figured it was a good way to allow people to see me in a more personal way outside of just written (blog) or spoken (podcast) words. After two months of posting, I ended up having a post go viral!
This post shows how my high school juniors and seniors all got silent when I asked a basic multiplication fact, 9×4. It also shows how none of them even bothered to pick up their calculators from their desk and punch it in. The video then proceeds to show me matching their energy by also shutting down, and then being petty when they asked for my help later in the period. What I like to call the ultimate cure for learned helplessness.
What the post cannot show is the risk free learning environment, the growth mindset culture I have established since the first week of school. So yes, my approach may appear extreme, but it is appropriate due to the daily culture of my classroom.
Thousands of comments on the post later, I came to realize that most teachers, regardless of subject or grade level, experience students showing learned helplessness. I mean I had Kindergarten through college level educators of core subjects, electives, and the arts chiming in regarding their similar experiences. I was absolutely astonished to learn that this was such a universal issue.
What is Learned Helplessness?
According to Medical News Today, it can be simply defined as: When a person believes that they are unable to control or change the situation, so they do not try, even when opportunities for change are available. For our students, this can lead to feelings of despair, hopelessness, and a lack of motivation. Usually linked to what that individual considers to be a traumatic event.
Some of you may be thinking, what can kids know about trauma. Well, allow me to provide a few examples of what educational trauma may be for your students. Do note that these traumas stem from negative experiences with teachers, peers, or academic challenges.
Trigger warning, you may find that you too experienced educational trauma when you were a student. Or that you may be causing certain types of trauma for your own students.
The Cause and Cure for Learned Helplessness
1. Constant Failure and Negative Feedback
Cause: Repeated academic failure, without appropriate support, can lead students to believe they are incapable of succeeding. Harsh criticism or embarrassment in front of the entire class from teachers, reinforces this sense of powerlessness.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: Normalize making mistakes and being incorrect. Create a culture of growth mindsets. Allowing your students to put a positive spin on what would otherwise be a negative.
Be sure you have a few phrases in your repertoire to use with your students. Such as, “Thanks for trying, mistakes help us to learn for next time.” “I am so proud of you for not giving up, you are building great character right now.”
I have a previous post on creating a Risk Free Learning Environment, which promotes a culture of growth mindset, and empowers students to simply try…no matter how good, bad, or ugly the attempt…just try.
2. Teacher Neglect or Emotional Abuse
Cause: A teacher who ignores a student’s needs, dismisses their concerns, or verbally belittles them can create an environment where the student feels unworthy or incapable. Emotional abuse, like shaming or sarcasm, damages self-esteem, leading to a sense of helplessness.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: Although it is impossible to meet every student’s needs at every waking moment they are in your classroom, it is important to make sure every student feels seen. Do your best to notice when a student is really happy, sad, or angry. Address the student by allowing them a safe space to share what is causing those feelings.
Also, double check your word choice with your students. Ensure you are avoiding words and phrases that can be perceived as put-downs or attacks. Such as: stupid, lazy, pointless, disgrace, dumb, disgust, I can’t wait for this year to be over, etc.
Replace them with things such as, “You are capable of giving better effort than this.” “I know this may be a challenging topic for you, how about we focus on taking baby steps until we can master more of it.” “I am disappointed right now, not that you don’t know how to do it, but that you are not even trying to do it.” “This year has been a little rough, how about we work together to make the rest of it go smoother.”
3. Bullying (By Peers or Teachers)
Cause: Students who are bullied, teased, name-called by peers, or even by teachers, may develop feelings of isolation, fear, and helplessness. When a school or teacher fails to intervene or provide support, the student learns they are unable to change their situation.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: Create a culture in your classroom, starting with yourself, that negative talk is not allowed. Negatives can be put-down words, or name calling. Address students immediately when you hear words such as dumb, stupid, nerd, dork, retarded, etc. Let them know that those kinds of words are not allowed in your classroom and they will not be tolerated.
Also, recognize that bullying can be actions just as much as words. Be sure you and your students are not isolating specific kids. That actions towards others are not mean or aggressive in nature. Including hand gestures and facial expressions.
4. Lack of Recognition or Praise
Cause: When a student’s hard work goes unnoticed or unacknowledged, it can lead to a strong feeling of uselessness. Without positive reinforcement, students may feel that their efforts are meaningless, discouraging them from even trying.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: Make the biggest deal out of the smallest attempts to do the right thing. Acknowledge and praise the behaviors you want to see continue.
You can say phrases similar to these: “Thank you to the students who are…” “I really appreciate you being on time to class today.” “Thank you for working quietly and independently on this assignment.” “Wow, what a great suggestion you gave to your group, I’m sure you are full of more ideas.” “You have all your materials out for class today, that’s what I love to see.” “Thank you for waiting patiently, what can I help you with?”
Students like to feel seen. Even when you praise them for doing the smallest thing correctly, it charges their battery. Make a conscious effort to give compliments throughout the day. The more you practice the better at it you will become, and the more you will be empowering all of your students.
A big plus is students get easily jealous of others, and when you compliment one or two students, the rest will try to impress you as well. Almost immediately at that. I cover this in greater detail in my post, Hold Expectations, Not Grudges.
5. Inconsistent or Unfair Discipline
Cause: Students who experience unfair or inconsistent discipline may struggle with trust and a sense of control. Unpredictable consequences for behavior create an environment of fear and helplessness, where students feel they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: Treat every student the same. Yes, I am very aware of this cliche saying, but it is the absolute truth. Your students are watching and listening. Waiting for you to slip up and to show favoritism. To give them an excuse to act up or to shut down, to lash out, and to call you out. Don’t help them make you the scapegoat.
Avoid making exceptions for students who are “normally good kids.” Hold your best and worst behaving students to the same standard. Your rules are your rules and you address anyone who is out of compliance. For more tips on being fair across the board, check out my post, Don’t be a Fool, Post Your Classroom Rules.”
6. Trauma from Home or Community Seeping into the Classroom
Cause: External trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or instability at home, can carry over into the classroom. Students experiencing such trauma may already feel helpless in their personal lives, and negative school experiences can reinforce their belief that they have no control over their circumstances.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: As I mentioned in my post, Hold Expectations, Not Grudges, you have no clue what students face when they are not in your classroom. You may be their only potential source for stability and positivity. You can only control your students experience when they are with you.
That being said, you have to be consistent and predictable. A source of safety and security. Speak affirmations into your students daily. Build their self esteem as for academics as well as for themselves. Instill in them that they may not be able to control the life they have right now, but by working hard and applying themselves, they can control the type of life they will have in the future. That they can write their own story if they do the right things now.
7. Cultural or Racial Discrimination
Cause: Students who face discrimination or microaggressions in the classroom based on race, gender, discipline record, or other aspects of identity can feel powerless and prejudged. This can result in learned helplessness, particularly if the teacher or school fails to create an inclusive environment.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: We see the discrimination and microaggressions come out the most when we get students whose discipline history reaches us before the actual student shows up. Already stamped as a trouble maker, they get treated as if they will never be more than that, never given a chance to grow and turn over a new leaf.
Also, in the more well-to-do schools, there are students who come from the poverty side of railroad tracks. These students are already labeled as troublemakers, as lower performing, as less likely to be successful so they are not worth the teacher putting in extra energy.
All these underlying beliefs for these and other students show. No matter how much an educator lies to themselves and says they treat everyone the same. Hence the word microaggressions, they are involuntary. Done without having to be thought about. So fix your beliefs if you want to fix your students.
8. Unaddressed Learning Disabilities or Challenges
Cause: When a student’s learning disability or specific academic needs are not addressed, they may struggle to keep up with their peers. Over time, they may internalize the idea that they are “not smart enough” or “incapable” of academic success.
Cure for Learned Helplessness: I cannot tell you the amount of students I encounter at the high school level who have learning disabilities or who show multiple signs of potentially being on the Autism or Asperger’s spectrum but are not diagnosed. ESE strategies are good strategies for all students. Keep that in mind. Students don’t have to have paperwork to benefit from the teaching, learning, and organizational strategies those who are coded receive.
I recommend teaching to the “dumbest” kid in the room. Structure direct instruction to meet the needs of your lowest students. That way you can capture all your students. Make practice activities scaffolded from low to medium, to high.
Scaffolded and tiered assignments are ways to make your lowest students feel successful. At least they will be able to answer some questions, which is much better than the typical none. Your higher students will complete more questions because they are performing at those higher levels. The goal is to help all your students feel successful. I cover many more strategies in my post, Creating a Risk Free Learning Environment.
Conclusion: The Cure for Learned Helplessness
As teachers, we have the power to shape the learning experiences of every student who walks into our classroom. The examples of learned helplessness and educational trauma show how deep the wounds can be when students feel unsupported or unseen. But just as these traumas can be inflicted in the classroom, they can also be healed there.
The question we must ask ourselves is: Are we willing to be the change that our students need? Are we committed to creating a classroom environment where every student feels safe, seen, and capable of success?
It starts with us. By fostering a growth mindset, acknowledging students’ efforts, and using positive reinforcement, we create a space where students feel valued. By paying attention to our language, providing consistent discipline, and recognizing the emotional and cultural challenges students may bring with them, we build a foundation of trust and respect.
Trauma may walk into your classroom, but it doesn’t have to stay there. Be the teacher who helps students break free from the cycle of learned helplessness. Be the guide that helps them see their potential and empowers them to take control of their learning journey.
Together, we can ensure that no student feels powerless in our classrooms. Let’s challenge ourselves to be the change they need—so they can heal, grow, and thrive.
If you are looking for highly engaging secondary math activities. Check out the Virtually I’mPossible Teachers Pay Pay Teachers store.
