Category Archives: Growth Mindset
Back to School
Tired of asking ‘What did you do at school today?’ and getting a shrug? Consider using these activities at home to delve into what happened at school in a more creative way. (You can also participate by sharing your details or answers!) (1) Play ABC’s about Your Day Start by offering your “a” word, then… Read More »
Vocabulary Development Ideas
Growing a vocabulary requires spending time with new words. Focus on important words; those with often-use potential or subject-related value. Try these ideas to help students ‘own’ the selected new words. First create a special journal or **worksheet to allow space for the some or all of the following components: Introduce the word and the… Read More »
Effective Goal Setting vs Intentions
Goal setting: a measurable idea you want to accomplish Intention: an aim, a plan of action Substitute intentions for goal setting. Take the pressure off while still suggesting the idea is clearly in view. 1. Write down your goal with specific, measurable, and identifiable intentions. Instead of saying: write 6 sentences about (subject), say or… Read More »
STEAM up your S.T.E.A.M.
Incorporating S.T.E.A.M. into your classroom need not be expensive. What it takes is an added pinch of creativity. Try these ideas to get started enhancing your S (science), T (technology), E(engineering), A (art) and M (math) activities. Use the materials that you have on hand. Team up with other teachers to share kits and materials… Read More »
Elevator Going Up! Strategies to elevate Student Thinking
In addition to Think-Pair-Share partnering, here’s a list of ways to unpack student thinking: Take quick classroom surveys as a quick way to get ‘a feel’ for where the students are in their thinking about a topic. Ask students to share how they reached their individual conclusions. Accept a variety of methods and processes. Ask… Read More »
Motivating Students
The days of the carrot and the stick are long past. Modern classrooms look to self motivation as we seek to actively engage students in their personal educational goals. So what does that look like? demonstrating by sharing your personal goals for the classroom as well as for yourself as the teacher-leader setting classroom goals… Read More »
Embrace Patience, Understanding, and Change
Growth Mindset teaches us that learning is an ever-rising spiral that requires us to merge building blocks of our understanding and knowledge over time. We need to be patient and persistent with ourselves and students. We need to embrace flexibility and expect to not always ‘get it’ the first time we try something new. We… Read More »
Engage your ‘Can Do’
Find joy every day. Your attitude and positive ways of engaging students will brighten the hours you spend with your class. Fill your classroom with positive energy. The site Big Life Journal provides growth mindset ideas and free resources, as well as purchasable materials. Subscribe for free! Display student work that shows each student’s best… Read More »
Metacognition and Math
The four parts remain the same across learning math concepts: Plan and Organize skim and preview tasks breakdown the parts decide how to proceed Self-Monitor check your progress troubleshoot problems ask for help when truly ‘stuck’ Self Reflect assess our strategies Think-Pair-Share-Compare with others Direct Our Own Learning know what we know know what we… Read More »