Professional Learning for Busy Educators

Heroes in books and movies captivate kids, many of whom could teach a master class on these characters. The fresh perspective teachers can offer is how students themselves can and should be heroes.

As advocates of growth mindset, we can teach children that heroism does not require obsession with perfection or product. We should show students that we also value process and progress. Heroic stories can help: They teach students about mitigating mistakes, learning from loss, and overcoming adversity, all of which are key elements of growth mindset.

If you are a manager, parent, educator, business owner or in a serious relationship, then understanding the difference between a Growth vs Fixed Mindset is critical to your success.
I stumbled upon this concept while reading Dr. Carol S. Dweck's bestselling book Mindset  on vacation in January.  I'm such a believer in the idea that my last four articles have been on this subject, and my wife and I even created a free, fun seven day scavenger hunt for kids that will transform your child into a "Yes, I Can!" mindset.

Reading can be a very fraught topic for parents, teachers and students. Strong reading skills are essential for accessing later curriculum, so teachers put a lot of emphasis on it early. But the pressure and angst of getting students reading on schedule can sap the joy out of an activity that many young children love. At its heart, reading is a way to access stories, which in turn make readers wonder about the world. In the race to get kids reading, it can be easy to treat reading like a procedure, instead of the complicated experience that it is.