Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Growth Mindset

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

"You have only FAILED IF YOU HAVE GIVEN UP, until then, it's LEARNING"

Carol Dweck researched "Growth Mindset" and she talks about the power of believing in that you can improve.  The power of the word YET or NOT YET allows the student to keep trying and not give up.

https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en

"If you have never failed.  You've never tried anything new."

Charles Schulz's,  Peanuts Comic Strip cartoonist became famous, however, in high school his work was rejected for the high school yearbook by the staff at his school.  If this stopped him he would never have become the famous cartoonist he became.As teachers and parents we should highlight the learning that happens through mistakes.  Students should be challenged and their accomplishments celebrated. Effort, practice and process should be praised not just the end result.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Never Give Up!

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

"Never Give Up!"

Winston Churchill

(The Peanuts Movie)

"Snoopy rushed to his typewriter and began to write.The Flying Ace knew he could never give up on her.  He could never give up on himself."

(Blue Sky The Peanuts Movie - Schulz, Movie Novelization)
Chapter 20 : The Final Battle pg 123

Children will confront many challenges, some small and others big.  Research suggests that perseverance, the ability to stick with tough tasks, discipline, dedication as well as drive is linked to individual achievement more than talent. This has been also researched by Carol Dweck who found that children who had a growth mindset, who believed their successes are a result of their hard work were the achievers. The children with a growth mindset believed that the more you challenge yourself, the smarter you become.
Children need to understand that even geniuses must work hard.  They need to persevere through difficult tasks.  

The book "Mindset"by Carol Dweck from Stanford University outlines her research on achievement and success and her idea of the power of our mindset.

http://www.amazon.com/Mindset-The-New-Psychology-Success/dp/0345472322

Here are some of the reviews about the book...

Praise for Mindset

“Everyone should read this book.”—Chip and Dan Heath, authors of Switch and Made to Stick

“Will prove to be one of the most influential books ever about motivation.”—Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock

“A good book is one whose advice you believe. A great book is one whose advice you follow. I have found Carol Dweck’s work on mindsets invaluable in my own life, and even life-changing in my attitudes toward the challenges that, over the years, become more demanding rather than less. This is a book that can change your life, as its ideas have changed mine.”—Robert J. Sternberg, IBM Professor of Education and Psychology at Yale University, director of the PACE Center of Yale University, and author of Successful Intelligence

“If you manage any people or if you are a parent (which is a form of managing people), drop everything and read Mindset.”—Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start and the blog How to Change the World

“Highly recommended . . . an essential read for parents, teachers [and] coaches . . . as well as for those who would like to increase their own feelings of success and fulfillment.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“A serious, practical book. Dweck’s overall assertion that rigid thinking benefits no one, least of all yourself, and that a change of mind is always possible, is welcome.”—Publishers Weekly

“A wonderfully elegant idea . . . It is a great book.”—Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., author of Delivered from Distraction

Motivational Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjP9r-HU4fk

"The Pursuit of happiness" with Will Smith

You can learn anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC82Il2cjqA

Khan Academy

The brain is like a muscle, the more you use it and struggle the more it grows.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom: Good teaching.

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

“Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers.”  

Josef Albers 

Questions are a powerful weapon to thinking.  If we ask questions that require a "yes" or "no" answer we limit the student.  Open ended questions require no right or wrong answer, however, open ended questions promote critical thinking and problem solving as well as encouraging discussion and language development.

Some examples of great phrases or questions to promote discussion are:-
Tell me about...
I wonder...
Show how you know...

Can you explain what you are thinking...?

What are you wondering...?
What questions do you have...?
What part is tricky...?

What would happen if...?
What did you notice...?
What did you learn...?
What do you already know that could help you...?
What would you do if...?
What are you visualising...?
What do you think...?
What strategies did you use...?

How did you come to that conclusion...?
How could you show that in another way...?
How could you draw/write about or demonstrate your thinking...?
How do you know...?
How can we...?

After working in a Preschool for 18 years promoting discussion and social interactions amongst the children was a high priority and required teacher reflection and daily planning.  The preschool program promoted the  project based approach and this approach allowed the children to come up with their own conclusions and the questions teachers asked promoted this.  Now working with K-6 children I continue to try to ask questions that allow students to discuss their thoughts openly.

Teachers and parents asking questions that promote thinking and discussion will benefit children immensely.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom.

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful"

Norman Vincent Peale

If we only see, hear, touch and feel Christmas like children do then we can see its true beauty.

In line with my love of Snoopy. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas - True Meaning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPhqMJpQsYQ

Christmas is a time to stop and be grateful for all that we have in our life.

Christmas inspiration with more quotes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKKRwDEuoKU

Charles Dickens was talented in many ways.  He put the true meaning of Christmas in a small amount of words.  This is one of my favourite quotes.  

"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child himself."

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom.

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

An oldie but still a relevant quote for anyone in education.

Tell me and I forget

Teach me and I remember

Involve me and I learn.

Benjamin Franklin

This quote personifies to me that teaching is about "involving" students in what they need to learn.  

When students can be involved in hands-on learning, teachers will be able to keep their interest and they are active participants in their learning.

Today we are more and more aware of the teacher being a learner along-side the student and valuing each child's individual learning style.  The student is now more involved in their learning and therefore takes more responsibility with their learning.

Technology can be used to inform us about anything we need to know.  Teachers now need to move away from only telling as a form of instruction and be able to demonstrate clearly and simply so that students can be involved with using this knowledge in a variety of ways to learn successfully. Technology is frowned upon by many, however, used appropriately it creates a learning environment that stimulates many students. As educators we are aware of the importance of visual learning and technology provides a great resource for our visual learners.

So involving the student using many varied ways will provide optimal learning for all.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom.

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

I just love Dr Seuss.  Life lessons in rhyme.  This quote is about determining your own destiny.

Children love Dr Seuss as enchanting worlds and creatures come to life.   The children are entertained by the humour and nonsense.

Follow my pinterest board Dr Seuss for inspirational activities and ideas.
https://www.pinterest.com/magsmg/dr-seuss/

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS OF WISDOM

"Mistakes are proof that you are trying"

Author unknown

This quote hangs on my wall in my classroom.  There are many ways to find solutions to a problem - we can ask for help or clarification or we can work it out with a friend or a classmate.  We can work it out in a different way or last but not least we can make a mistake and guess what?  It can become clearer each time a mistake is made.  Giving up or saying "I can't do it!" is not an option and I wouldn't encourage this.

Society has placed barriers and created so much pressure that we are all under pressure to perform. Children are under pressure to be perfect.  Parents are under pressure to make sure that their children are achieving high results.  Teachers are under pressure to teach "for the test".  In Australia Naplan is a prime example of this.  We are all under pressure and this pressure is placed on the children in one form or another.

Studies have found that learning is enhanced when children make mistakes!  Do we give children opportunities for this?  Is our over crowded curriculum that should support children to develop at their own pace provide for this?

Carol Dweck, a professor at Stanford University, has done research that showed that praising children for their intelligence can actually make them less likely to persist in the face of challenge.  Carol did a study with 5th grade children in New York City schools.  One group was praised for their intelligence and another for their effort.  They were then challenged with an extremely difficult test designed to 8th graders.  The children that were praised for being smart became discouraged and their effort decreased by 20%.  They saw their mistake as a sign of failure.  The children that were praised for effort increased their effort by 30%.  Carol Dweck's research studies shows the importance of challenging children even if they get things wrong.  Mistakes are the pathways to learning.

I am now reading the book Carol Dweck has written called "Growth Mindset".  In her book she explains a simple idea that the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area.  This book is a powerful book and I highly recommend it not only to teachers, parents and all individuals will find this book inspirational.