The Power of YET!

One small, three letter word. It is my favorite word to say to doubting students as well as skeptical teachers!

YET!!

(Click on the word YET and watch a video)

What's to stop us from beginning our day like Jessica in the video? It may not involve standing on your sink to develop this "YET" sensibility, but it can take a little work! But if we want to achieve more as a student, reach more students as a teacher, or improve in the sports arena, this one little word can go sooooo far! It takes practice, patience, perseverance and TRUST!

So imagine what each of us--teachers, students, and school leaders--could do as individuals, for the people we love, and the world we live in if we give our very best, if we practice smarter, embrace challenge, trust in our teachers, colleagues, mentors, and parents and replace “can’t” with a deafening “yet”! 

Flap Harder Penguin and You Can Fly?

“Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on it’s ability to climb a tree, it’s live its whole life believing it is stupid.” ~Albert Einstein

Now, lest you say that this is another one of those “flap harder penguin and you can fly” type of statements, let me set you straight, because that simply is not the case. Yes, statistics show that low socioeconomic factors vs high socioeconomic factors can determine test scores, but why is that so? A belief pattern perhaps? A fixed mindset perhaps? Maybe, maybe not, but how can believing in someone be all bad? How can having hope be all bad? Many would say that one is setting up one for failure. Yet, how many of us have seen someone believe in inner-city kids and have watched them fly up the ladder of success as a result? So, least you think that building false hope or empty praise is the goal, Carol Dweck, a believer in Growth Mindset addresses this topic. She states that giving praise for praise’s sake is exactly what we are NOT to do. We need to guide students specifically, not superficially; we praise their effort. We are not asking penguins to fly, but we are showing them that they certainly could be excellent swimmers, and celebrating their efforts towards success in doing so. We’ve all seen the students; the one’s that other teachers say will “never amount to anything.” How many times were they completely written off by society and educators, only to find success?

MINDSET

Growth Mindset

                                  

In our counseling classes here at PRAS, we have been learning about having a Growth Mindset. Of course, the material we learn is developmental depending upon the ages of the students, but if you ask your child, they will know about Oreo the Skunk and Bucky the Beaver, the finger puppets I use to help students understand the concept of a Growth Mindset.  

Oreo has a fixed or closed mindset and often is negative. She says things like "I can't" or "It's too hard!" In other words she has Stinkin' Thinkin'! On the other hand, Bucky has a growth or open mindset and is always positive. He says "I can" and "I will, even if it's hard!" He is an Eager Beaver and wants to do well. Below is some information about Growth Mindsets and ways to help instill such thinking in your child.  Click on the links to hear more from the experts!

• Students with a growth mindset believe that intelligence can be developed. These students focus on learning over just looking smart, see effort as the key to success, and thrive in the face of a challenge.
• Students with a fixed mindset believe that people are born with a certain amount of intelligence, and they can’t do much to change that. These students focus on looking smart over learning, see effort as a sign of low ability, and wilt in the face of a challenge.
• Students with a growth mindset do better in school.

What is a Growth Mindset?

Click on the  link above to listen to Carol Dweck to learn more about fixed and  growth mindsets and how they impact learning.

3 Ways a Parent Can Instill a GROWTH MINDSET