January 16

Chapters 1 and 2

In the first chapter, Mary Cay Ricci discusses how mindsets affect the classroom (hence the name of the chapter!).  It really sets up the book.

  1. Was there anything that really stood out to you in this first chapter?

 

Chapter 2 is where, I believe, the real meat of the book begins. It discusses how to build a school culture that supports a growth mindset. Administrators would be best suited to this chapter. I would like to bring this book to my current administrators with the hopes that they get on board and bring it on to the staff as a whole. I have touched base with a few of my fellow teachers, but I really think it needs to be a whole school initiative.

  1. In what areas, personal or professional, do you have a fixed mindset? Why?
  2. In what areas, personal or professional, do you have a growth mindset? Why?
  3. If you were given appropriate instruction and you had the time, persistence, and motivation, at what would you become better?

 

  1. Would you be willing to bring this to your administrator as a possibility for a whole-school initiative? What do you believe the response would be? 

 

Next week, we will look at Chapters 3 and 4. Thank you in advance for your comments and responses to the different questions. Please note that you do not have to answer all of the questions. Answer the questions that speak to you, or simply give your thoughts, ideas or any other information you would like to include. This is your learning opportunity, so make it what you want 🙂

January 1

Happy New Year!

I would just like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

As I go in to 2017 and think about all the New Year’s Resolution possibilities, I wonder what I should focus on this year. There are the usual suspects- lose weight, get in shape, eat healthy, stop smoking, stop drinking, and so on, but many of these do not apply to me- I don’t smoke or drink, I think I eat pretty healthily and I feel as though I am a healthy weight and in shape, although we could all use exercise. A few things do come to mind though. One being learning better parenting skills so that I can better support my boys in their growth and development. Another, developing more of a growth mindset in all areas of my life. A third possibility would be to be a more attentive wife and mother. An finally, a better classroom planner. When I consider all of these areas that I want to better myself, I think of the fact that I work on these areas all the time. In fact, I just need to change how I look at them. If I came at it from a growth mindset perspective, I would be able to better use my mistakes as learning opportunities instead of cutting myself down for failing once again.

With that being said, I have chosen a New Year’s Resolution- Be accepting of my mistakes and use them as opportunities to learn and grow. I know that I am not perfect, but I can be better with self-reflection and positive self-talk. My goal is to gain some self-esteem and to stop always cutting myself down.

A huge part of attaining my goal will be to continue to learn more about the growth mindset. I am thankful for the opportunity to lead book study and learn from everyone who will be participating. I am also thankful for my amazing family, especially my super supportive husband. I know that Dacen will always be there to support me with anything I decide to do, and I definitely know that he will be willing to help me work on my positive self-talk and self-reflection.

I sincerely hope that all of you have a wonderful 2017. May you all be blessed with the support you require. I am super excited about what 2017 will bring! Here’s to a New Year full of opportunities, possibilities, learning and adventures!

December 29

An Introduction to “Mindsets in the Classroom”

“Mindsets in the Classroom” begins by introducing the idea of mindsets. It differentiates a growth vs a fixed mindset and discusses why a growth mindset is important in the classroom.

My personal definition of a growth mindset is being able to accept mistakes as opportunities to learn, allowing oneself to work hard through a problem or challenge and to never give up. Having a growth mindset allows one to make progress on a goal.

A fixed mindset belongs to someone who does not takes risks for fear of failing. People with a fixed mindset do not believe that they can improve themselves. They believe that they have achieved all that they can and because of this, they shy away from challenges for fear that they will not be able to accomplish anything and thus will look inferior or not smart.

One of the important things I have learned in my readings on mindsets is that one can have both a fixed and growth mindset at the same time. I, for one, believe I am this type of person. It is something that I am currently working on. I know that I am growth mindset in some area of my life and very fixed in others. When it comes to my job and my extra-curricular activities, I have a growth mindset. When it comes to my parenting style, as much as I would like it to be otherwise, I have a very difficult time moving away from a fixed mindset. This is my goal for this New Year! Change my parenting style to something that is less quick to anger and much more patient and understanding of my lovely boys. As we work through this book, I will keep this in my mind and make the necessary changes. I have written my biggest Growth Mindset story. I am sure that many of you will have your own growth mindset stories, or will have by the end of the book study. I look forward to hearing them all!

My Growth Mindset Story:

One area in which I have a growth mindset is with my Karate. An example of my growth mindset comes with my physical abilities testing. In order to move up through the levels of belts, everyone must be able to show that they are physically able to handle the next level. Last June, I was testing for my 1st degree brown belt. In order to accomplish this, I needed to do 60 sit-ups in 65 seconds or less and 70 full push-ups, non-stop. I knew that the sit-ups would not be a problem, as I have done them before and I was right. I managed to do the sit-ups in 54 seconds (which I will have to beat for the next level of testing). The push-ups caused me a lot of stress. I could barely do 5 in a row, let alone 70! I knew I had to practice to get better but I made so many excuses throughout the year, hopeful that my Sensei would give in and let me do them from my knees, as I had done for all of the other belts I achieved. He did not give in and at the start of May I was up to 10 full push-ups in a row. Despite my husband’s constant reminders to practice regularly, I continued to make excuses. “I have bad wrists.” “I don’t have enough time.” Finally in June, my desire to get my brown belt grew to the point where I started to practice, although I was not as diligent as I should have been. When I had my first attempt during karate, I managed to do 50 push-ups before my body just gave out. I could not do any more. I was so frustrated when I went home. I told my husband, who very kindly told me that was just another excuse. I practiced more, doing 20-30 push-ups every morning. When I had my second attempt and my body gave out again at around 50 push-ups I was beginning to feel defeated, but I really wanted that brown belt and I knew that the only way to get it would be to continue practicing. There was only 1 class left. My last chance. On the administration day at school, 4 days before my last chance, I set the timer on my phone for 30 minute increments and every time it went off, no matter where I was in the school, I did 20 push-ups. That day I managed to do 400 push-ups. The next day I did over 200 more. At the advice of my Sensei, I took 2 days off to give my body a chance to recuperate.  On Monday, my last chance for completing my physical test, I was quite nervous. I got up in front of the class and started pushing out my push-ups. I made it to 60 before my body shook to the point of collapsing. I fell to the ground but another student, a black belt, pushed me on- “Get up! Keep going! You can do it!” I got up and pushed through 10 more. Sensei asked the two black belts who were running the test if they thought I passed. One of them said, “Well, I think she should do 5 more.” So I did. Then he said, “5 more touching your nose to the floor each time.” And I did those as well. Both of the black belts then said they thought I should pass. Even though I didn’t do them non-stop, I was able to do 70- no 80 push-ups! I was beyond ecstatic! Needless to say, next time I know that I just need to start practicing earlier and the 80 push-ups I need to do for the 2nd degree brown belt will be done non-stop. I am actually excited to be able to get practicing again once I have recovered from my surgery!

 

We will begin on January 16th with the first 2 chapters of the book. Please join in the conversation at any point throughout that week. The second week will be posted on the Sunday at 8:00 am and will include the next two chapters. Please make this book study what you feel will be most beneficial to you. I have included questions on each of the chapters. Feel free to answer all, some or none of these questions. If you wish to include your own stories or any other information, that would be wonderful as well. Please enjoy the book study and don`t forget to check out the comments from some of the other participants!

December 28

Welcome to the Book Study!

A huge welcome to all of the members joining us for the 2019-2020 TIE-BC Book Study. This year I have chosen 2 different books, “Positive Discipline-Tools for Teachers” by Jane Nelsen and Kelly Gfroerer and “Interoception- The Eighth Sensory System” by Kelly Mahler.

 

 

 

 

I chose “Positive Discipline” after participating in a workshop with the TIE-BC Executive and the Chapter Presidents last December. I realized that student behaviours are on the rise in my school, so my guess is that this is the case in all areas of the province.

I chose “Interoception”after a visit from a POPARD consultant. She gave us some of the strategies out of the book in order to support one of children with Autism. Since I had been asked by members for resources to support students with Autism, I thought this might be a good book to persue.

I hope that there is something here for everyone! Please enjoy!

Happy Reading!