Sarah Golightly---Student Agency—Course 2 Blog 3
Develop Growth Mindset
This year I have a
great group of students who have always made the honor roll and had few
discipline referrals. Yet based on the
NTN Agency Rubric for Middle School my students fall into the proficient
category. The quote for the growth
mindset includes effort, practice, and challenge. My students put forth effort and they practice
also; however, a wall is hit when a challenge is presented.
I’m really not
sure how challenged middle school students feel in 2017. Now, an eighty is a B. That statement alone speaks volumes! A grade is not what will prompt the student
to grow his intelligence. An inner drive
must be cultivated. All teachers need
to know about student agency and then as a community of teachers we can direct
these young minds.
Of the five
categories for a student to Develop Growth Mindset, I need to concentrate on
presenting a challenge to my students and let them take risks in the
presentation of the material or even the words they speak. If they seek a challenge and then succeed,
the other four elements [effort, growth, confidence, and personal relevance]
will be an outgrowth from it.
Take Ownership Over
One’s Learning
The ultimate goal of all educators is
to direct students to become mature leaders for life. The advanced column pushes a child to give
more than 100 percent. Many students are
visual learners and it would greatly help if they saw this type of behavior
displayed daily from the adults they encounter.
We all remember that inspiring teacher who was ready every single day
and was truly a master teacher. Iron
sharpens iron and we can help these children become polished, consistent,
analytical, community minded, etc.
The Power of “Yet”
The abilities of all children can be developed. No one wants to fail. Their mindset needs to change. This happens when we praise wisely. Teachers need to encourage the process and
effort. In my opinion, not all A’s are
equal. However, we all recognize
effort. It has a look to it that can’t
be fake. You know it when you see
it! Students need to realize that effort
and an A are equivalent. A “not yet”
will give anyone, especially a child, greater confidence. We teach children and they need to see hope,
possibilities, and a future. That only
happen with “yet”!
I am so glad that you have great students. I hit the same wall with my students when challenge is presented.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point, that agency does not correlate with A/B grades. While as educators, many of us are motivated by good grades that is not always the case with our students and achieving proficiency is not always associated with challenge that is behind the growth mindset movement and embedded in the New Tech agency rubric provided for this blog post. I agree with you that one way we can grow our students' capacity with agency is to intentionally plan opportunities and experiences that will challenge them so they have opportunities to grow and to receive feedback and to dive back in again. In your "Power of Yet" reflection you speak to the power of positive, specific praise that builds on students' effort and current levels of achievement so that we may promote growth.
Thank you,
Dawn