Parents & Teachers Make the Difference!

This summer I have been taking an online course through Stanford Online.  It is called How to Learn Math: For Teachers and Parents.

The lead teacher for this course is Jo Boaler, a Stanford professor.  

My game changing idea from this class so far is about mistakes.

Mistakes are a good thing!  We want them in order to learn.  

Thinking of mistakes a good, as opportunities for new learning is part of having a growth mindset.

In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.

So, parents and teachers......the children are watching us.  They are listening.  They are observing.  What messages are se sending them?  It's teachers and parents who can really make the difference and change to foster a growth mindset!!!

Parents and teachers, we have a charge.  

Encourage growth, not “success”.

“Success” is a relative term. Many children define success as a good grade which, again further entrenches the child in the fixed mentality. Put the term “success” aside and encourage the child to GROW. Encourage them to TRY HARD. Encourage them to CHALLENGE themselves. Gradually, the child will begin to associate success with growth, progress and innovation." (Mady)

Parents & teachers, you can not only make a difference, you can be the difference.  Be an encourager of growth and effort!

Mindset Book Study - Chapter 3

The Truth About Ability & Accomplishment

My take-aways from this chapter:

• People with a growth mindset don't throw in the towel and give up. They take charge of their own learning process and make it happen! (p. 62)

• With the right mindset, and the right teaching, people are capable of a lot more than we think. (p. 64)
• A fixed mindset limits achievement. (p. 67)  
• Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that others can't do it (and sometimes do it even better) with training. (p.70)

     A CAUTION about praise.  We think we are being nice when we say things like "Oh, aren't you smart!"  But statements such as this can actually cause more damage than good.  Telling kids they are smart as a form of praise will adversely make them afraid to take chances, challenges, and make failures.  They will be hesitant to try and fail, and be thought of as no longer smart.  "We don't want to rob them of their zest for challenge and their recipe for success"(p.74)

Summer Shopping

Shhhh.  Don't tell my husband.

Oh wait, he drove me to the store.  Oh well, he already knows that I HAVE to always be on the lookout for something for my classroom.  Not shopping for my room would be like, well, not breathing.  Check out the interactive picture below to see my latest purchases!

Classroom work

It's that time of year again.  Inventory what I have, what I need, what I can let go of, and rearrange!

Setting up a new math program has me busy too!

Is it vacation yet????

Growth Mindset

I have been reading and partaking in a book study on the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. 

This weeks assignment was Chapter 2: Inside the Mindsets.

Here are the inspiring and interesting  quotes I pulled out from this chapter:

• "for children with a growth mindset, success is about stretching themselves"
• "You can always substantially change how intelligent you are."
• "...the fixed mindset makes people into nonlearners."  Oh no!
• "People in a growth mindset don't just seek challenge, they thrive on it."
• Fixed mindset individuals stress over that "they don't know how to do this - yet.  They forget the yet.

And, I love this about assessments:

"An assessment at one point and time has little value for understanding someone's ability, let alone their potential to succeed in the future."

Reflections of another year done

Yesterday was our last day of school.  It was a day of mixed emotions.

- Happy that summer break is finally here.
- Proud of the accomplishments and growth of all my kinder students.
- Appreciative for all the parents who entrusted me with the care and education of their children.
- Excited  to have more time available for myself, my family, and new professional development opportunities.
- Tired - it is kindergarten after all!
- Weepy - I cried.....5 times.
- Saddened that I will not see the smiling excited faces of my now graduated kinder students every day.
- Thankful for all the memories my kinder babies and I now have for the rest of our lives.

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