February 16, 2017

   

Educational Excellence

Growth Mindsets

Last time you learned a little about fixed mindsets.  Now let’s learn about growth mindsets.  Growth mindsets is a “belief system that suggests that one’s intelligence can be grown or developed with persistence, effort, and a focus on learning.”  Learners with a growth mindset believe that they can learn just about anything.  While they might have some struggle and some failure they understand that with “effort and perseverance they can succeed”.   “An educator with a growth mindset believes that with effort and hard work from the learner, all students can demonstrate significant growth and therefore all students deserve opportunities for challenge. An effective teacher armed with instructional tools that differentiate, respond to learner’s needs, and nurture critical thinking process, and you have the recipe for optimum student learning. “   (Mindsets in the Classroom by Mary Cay Ricci) 

This aligns to our core values:  We believe all students can learn in a safe, nurturing and engaging environment despite their circumstances.  We believe the development of critical skills along with character values are crucial to learning.  

Intentional Instruction

Google Lesson Plans

Are you wondering what the difference is between guided and collaborative learning? 

Collaborative Community

NHA: What If Students Don’t Reset?

I get this question a lot. Put them in a sleeper hold until they pass out. When they wake up recognize them for resetting so quietly. :) Obviously, I’m kidding.

Visualize a flow chart: If students break a rule, tell them to reset. If they reset appropriately and you say, “Restart” for the littles, welcome them back. If they don’t reset and you can still teach, energize the other students for their greatness, ignore the disruption, and wait it out as long as the other students are still learning. The whole class will benefit from realizing they can’t get attention from the class through misbehavior and that they are missing out on the class. HOWEVER, if a student is so disruptive that others are joining in and the problem is getting bigger, it’s time for a consequence. If you set clear rules about what you expect from students in reset, and they refuse, let the consequence play out (without ANY energy.) So what are your rules? What are the consequences for breaking said rules? If you follow this hypothetical yes/no flowchart with clear limits and consequences, you will successfully be following the 3rd stand: Clearly But Un-energetically Enforce Limits. Why do this? “Because I care enough about you to give you limits and boundaries...if I didn’t care, I’d let you do whatever you want...but I love you, and I want you to know that what you’re doing is not OK.” These are actual words you would hear out of my mouth with my own kids on any given day. Feel free to use them yourself.  :)

*Staff Shout Outs* 
If you would like to recognize a colleague for something outstanding, please send the information in an email to Hailey for the next published blog.  

A HUGE shout out goes to Mrs. Brown, Mr. Austin, and our Kuehnle Choir! After much anticipation and countless hours of preparation, the Kuehnle Choir performed the National Anthem at the Houston Rockets game on Saturday, February 11th.  They not only performed, but they ROCKED! The children and teachers' hard work really paid off. They were awesome!!