Growth Mindset
Read about the impact in schools of the belief that skills are developed over time through effort, rather than being innate and “fixed”
Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset'
Carol Dweck, who parsed the difference between a "fixed" and a "growth" mindset, clarifies her theories of intelligence.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
The Effects of Unequal School Discipline Strategies
Guest blogger Amanda Ronan writes, "The harsh reality is that certain discipline practices are the reflections of institutionalized racism and outward discrimination against people of color and other underserved communities."
Teaching
Opinion
No Matter How Well We Do, It's Hard Not to Focus on 'That One Thing'
As I continue to reflect on my experiences this year, I will look deeply into my learning growth and challenges to set meaningful goals for the future and try not to be too hard on myself when things don't go my way the first time.
Student Achievement
Opinion
The Problem With Hurrying Childhood Learning
Too many kids are rushed toward the level they’re "supposed" to be on, with little attention given to the path they’re walking to get there.
Teaching
Opinion
It's Time to Let Go of Tired Teaching Habits
Read as guest blogger Aric Foster shares why we should retain our passion for learning without holding on to practices that we are just comfortable with. Too often, they aren't serving the right purpose anymore, so we owe it to ourselves and our students to make some changes.
Student Achievement
Opinion
Why I Opt My Son Out of State Testing
Let's start investing in our teachers and our schools and move to those forms of assessment, like portfolios for example. Using alternative assessments as a means to show growth is a winner for everyone and provides a level of equity that testing will never be able to provide.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Teenagers Are Skeptical of Praise for Good Effort, Study Finds
An analysis of studies on learning mindsets suggests that praising students for effort, rather than for being smart, can backfire in middle and high school.
Special Education
Opinion
The Challenge of Leading in a Profession Where Labels Matter
The difficulty lies in mediating the arbitrary, but important landmark standards, and the variability of children's readiness to meet them without the adults using labels to separate.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
Two Fantastic Examples of How Technology Changes Teaching and Learning
The professional conscience of every great educator guides them to prepare children with an education that develops the skills and knowledge to be successful in the world. Not our current world, mind you, but the one in which they will live as graduates of our systems.
Student Well-Being & Movement
For Teenagers, Praising 'Effort' May Not Promote a Growth Mindset
New research suggests adolescents can take the opposite message from adults praising their effort: that students just aren't "talented."
Personalized Learning
Opinion
Do Students Understand What Teachers Are Asking of Them?
Guest blogger Jacob Lewis says, "I think sometimes the manner of communication creates a disconnect between teachers and students. There's no way language can communicate what it's like to think with my brain or to view an idea or concept exactly the way I do."
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Are Children Lazy?
Schools have no business judging children or their parents for behaviors we don't understand. Most educators find it their professional responsibility to discover why children don't meet expectations.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
What's So Scary About Stillness?
As I continue to grow and develop as an educator, a parent, and a person, I can only hope that when the quiet comes, I will be able to truly appreciate and enjoy myself and those I surround myself with personally.
Teaching
Opinion
Success, What Exactly is it?
We are the moment, on the precipice of a need for real transformation. The system doesn't account for the different needs of students and still seeks to define success with a single pathway. This is a broken ideal and the sooner we move away from it, the better learning institutions will be for all students.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
Interviewing? Good Questions are Important. Careful Listening is Paramount.
Hiring is, arguably, the most important shared role of leaders and the governing body. It deserves and investment of time to listen openly and share perceptions and thoughts.