GROWTH MINDSET

Although Carol Dweck coined the term and examined the theory in 2006, the concept has really gained steam in the education world in the past few years.  Growth mindset was explored in our most recent staff professional development day.  However, the challenge from any PD session is to translate that into real results in student outcomes. Therefore, teachers were encouraged to share growth mindset related resources with each other, seek feedback from each other, and analyze instructional practices to determine whether a growth or fixed mindset message is being sent to our students.

The very next day, I had two teachers share some powerful examples from their classroom. 

One of the most impactful ways in which we can help to teach our students about a growth mindset is to model the mindset and behavior.  The first teacher shared his notes that he took in college about the same topic the students were beginning to learn about.  As he put the hand-written notes on the screen for the students to see, they began to chuckle at the elementary handwriting and weird shorthand. The teacher explained to his students that he struggled how to take notes in college because he never properly learned how to do it in middle or high school.  This opened up a deep conversation with his students about the importance of learning how to effectively take notes in class.  The teacher shared his struggles but demonstrated how he persevered and grew academically.  This students were now ready and willing to learn how to do something new!

The most powerful growth mindset exercise that I have ever seen was shared with me by another teacher.  She showed her students a short video clip of motivation and growth mindset.  Then she had her students write a letter – to their self.  She told the students she would read the letters and write back.  What an amazing opportunity for this adult to connect and encourage our students to establish a growth mindset!  Here are a few snippets of what some of the students wrote:

            Dear Self:

This video speaks a lot to me because I frequently hold myself back from doing things because I believe I’m not good enough.  It makes me wonder how many opportunities I’ve missed because of my “you can’t do it” mentality.  If I started believing in myself, I could do amazing things instead of wondering “what could have been?”

            Dear Self:

This video hit hard.  I’ve realized that I need to stop telling myself that I’m not good enough.  I don’t have to show everyone that I am the best.  Just myself.  I am good enough!  I’m not the best. But, I will be the best.  If I try my best, who cares if I’m not the best.  Just keep telling yourself that you can.  I know I can.  I know I will.  If your dad can do it, you can do it.  Stay strong and remember that you can.  No matter what everyone else thinks!

            Dear Self:

Opportunity or obligation?  Stop making it an obligation.  Stop believing that you’re not good enough.  Stop the mindset of comparison.  It’s not about being the fastest in the lane or acing every test.  It’s about being better than before.  It’s about improvement and courage.  Not jealousy.  Drive needs to be there all of the time.  Focus on improvement, not success.  Success will come.  Now believe it will. Then all the effort pays off.  But that won’t come without urgency and the belief in yourself.  Urgency is essential.  Improvement is as well.

            Dear Self:

What I want you to take from this video is your mindset.  What I want you to do is think differently.  All those negative thoughts….gone!  I want you to think differently about your future.  I want to challenge you to work harder at whatever you are striving for.  If you are going to do something do it right – put in 120%.  Think about if you work that much harder how much greater you can be.  Effort pays off.  Have more positivity of that mindset to get out there and chase your dreams.  To get there is going to take hard work.  I am going to need a positive mindset.  Failures and challenges will be a part of the process.  I am okay with that.  With this mindset I’m unstoppable.  So get out there and become something.  Become great.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY

Last night I returned from a long day of work and my son’s soccer practice around 8:15.  My wife said that my daughter (Brooklyn) was having her cousin (Alena) stay the night and I needed to take them to the Alena’s house to get her stuff.  The girls were out riding bikes somewhere and I did not want to wait any longer to do that task so I jumped in my car searching the neighborhood for them.  I quickly found them at the end of the street with two other kids about the same age (my daughter is 10).

I pulled over to them and rolled down the passenger window and was talking with my daughter, Brooklyn.  I asked what she was doing and told her to get home so we can go to Alena’s house and get her stuff.  Brooklyn said she did not want to go and wanted to stay right there and keep playing.  They had been swimming earlier in the day and I noticed that Alena had not yet changed back into her clothes with the exception of putting a shirt on over her bathing suit.  I noted to Brooklyn that Alena doesn’t even have any clothes (meaning shorts) and we needed to go get some since she was staying the night.  Alena quickly responded by tugging up her shirt and saying she did have a bathing suit on.  Brooklyn continued saying they do not need to go to Alena’s house because she already had stuff at our house (unbeknownst to my wife).  Good enough for me – I was ready to head back home and crash anyway.

Little did I know that a very observant lady across the street was watching the interaction, heard some of what was being said, and witnessed the girls’ reluctant behavior to do what I had asked.  As I began to pull away I noticed the lady walking briskly to my daughter and her friends.  By the movements of her mouth and hand/arm motions it struck me right away what she was asking them…..”Do you know that man?!?  What did he want?!?”

From the neighbor’s perspective and limited knowledge of what was going on, I was some creep trying to get my daughter and her cousin either in my car or asking them inappropriate things!!  After I laughed off the initial misunderstanding, I realized some interesting links to leadership and relationships.

So as you begin your new school year in the next few days, a few reminders:

1.      Be clear in your communication

I was not clear in my communication to the girls.  I should have said to my niece that she did not have any shorts on or any to change into – rather than did not have any clothes.

It is difficult for many (me included) to convey exact feelings and thoughts in written words.  I prefer looking at body language and facial expressions to help me understand a person’s intentions.  Those are absent in the written word.  This year, be careful about how you use email.  Email is great for quick, informational transactions – but remember the power in eye to eye contact and personal touch of proximity.

2.      Ask the right questions (before jumping to conclusions)

I am sure the neighbor had a perception of me that was not so pleasant.  She only heard part of the conversation and had one viewpoint.  However, before jumping too quickly to a conclusion, she asked the right questions to my daughter. 

It is amazing how many disagreements are a result of a lack of asking the right (or even any) questions.  This year, be sure to gain an understanding of the entire picture before jumping to conclusions.

3.      Get each other’s back

At first I was slightly annoyed with the neighbor’s intrusion on my conversation with my own daughter and niece.  However when I told my wife the story she immediately expressed gratitude for the neighbor watching out for Brooklyn and her friends.  So true.

Your colleagues and the students in your building are all on a team.  This year, watch out for each other.  When you notice someone on your team is down, do something special to lift them back up.  With all the recent attacks on education and educators and negative perception of students, it is up to us to support, encourage, and inspire one another.

Glass Half Full

My most recent post was a contribution to the New Albany Schools website.  You may access it here.

There are a lot of awesome people at New Albany High School.  A single person can have a huge impact on school culture.  In this blog post, I introduce a just a few of these awesome Eagles. 

KNOW YOUR STUDENTS' STORIES

How well do you know your students?  I mean really know them?  

Knowing your students stories is deeper than giving a survey to find out about their background experiences and favorite food or how they like to learn best.  You really know a student when you can tell me their hopes, dreams, struggles, fears, passions, and purpose. 

Here are three reasons why really knowing them is not just important – but imperative if you want to consider yourself a great educator.

1.  Helps to develop empathy in the teacher

Empathy allows us to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.  It is key in creating trust between individuals leading to a stable and healthy relationship.  It enables an educator to peel away from their professional costume and remember what it is to be human.  By knowing a student’s story – you are creating empathy within yourself toward that student. 

2. Enables the teacher to be aware of student growth and success

If you are a teacher, you are a leader.  One of the things great leaders do is celebrate their teams’ growth and successes.  By knowing your students stories, you can celebrate growth.  The celebration can be as simple as writing a note to a student for maintaining positive class participation even while her grandmother had been in the hospital for the past few weeks.

      3.  Aligns with OTES rubric

The OTES rubic is one of our measuring sticks for teacher quality.  It would make sense then that knowing our students’ stories is a part of this rubric.  Use what you know about their stories to help you create a better environment for your students to learn. 

In the OTES (Ohio Teacher Evaluation System), under the Instructional Planning thread is Standard 1: Knowledge of Students.  According to ODE, an accomplished teacher will:

·         Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and value of learning about students’ background experiences

·         Demonstrate familiarity with each student’s background knowledge and experiences

·         Describe multiple procedures used to obtain this information. 

·         The teacher should use this data to guide their instructional strategies, plans, and content delivery so that the needs of all students and groups of students are met

New Albany High School's New Learning Environments

My most recent blog post is another contribution to Mr. Carter's Office.  This post is about New Albany High School's new learning environments.  The post can be viewed here.  The purpose of this post is to inform parents and community members how New Albany High School is attempting to meet the needs of all learners.

Social Media Apps

My latest blog post was contributed to Mr. Carter's Office Blog and can be viewed by clicking here.

My goal was to share current and upcoming social media apps with parents and encourage them to have the appropriate conversations with their middle/high school student.  After it was posted, I received positive feedback from many parents.  Interestingly, one parent of two elementary children commented that she has experienced many these apps being explored with her 5th grade son.  It is never too early to open the dialogue with your student.