Recommended Reading
Self esteem is a complex term, pertaining (at its most basic level) to the evaluation of the discrepency between self image and ideal self. Research suggests that self-esteem can impose either a positive or negative influence on the learning process. It can have an impact on how an individual views tasks in life and has also found to have an influence on behaviour.
Emotional development, in particular, has been found to have a significant impact on pupils with SEN and especially those experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). Reseach has revealed that musical activities can be used to address this emotional development, via enhancing the self esteem of all pupils. This can, in turn, lead to other benefits elsewhere in learning such as improved literacy, numeracy and general co-ordination as well as better social skills and greater levels of personal expression, to name but a few.
