Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychology professor, created the terms “fixed mindset” and “growth mindset” after studying behavior in children. These mindsets refer to a person’s belief in their intelligence and learning. Having a growth mindset allows one to believe they can develop and expand their intelligence, so they work harder to do so. Students who exhibit growth mindsets are shown to do better in school than students who have a fixed mindset. People with fixed mindsets believe their intelligence is limited and nothing can be done to change it.
Teachers LOVE to teach students to develop a growth mindset. We are our students’ cheerleaders, support team, and personal encouragers in the classroom. A student in our classroom will do their best and achieve to the best of their ability. We recognize when students need help, encourage them to seek assistance, help them find strategies to succeed, and watch, smiling, as they use what we’ve taught them to become more autonomous in their school work, all the while patting yourself on the back and thinking “Yep! I helped do that; growth mindset. BAM!”
But what about teachers? Can this growth mindset and fixed mindset stuff be applicable to educators, too? Do you notice any educators who are lacking this mindset? Are you one of them?
I understand. Being a teacher can be rough. Something changes each year, and it’s usually just after you’ve mastered it. Like those fancy new tablets that were just ordered, or the latest writing textbook your building just adopted. Typically, teachers aren’t excited about change when what we have been doing seems to be working . . . or so we thought.
Just like our students, we should be demonstrating a growth mindset. We can’t get stuck focusing on the things that have worked for us for the last five years. Our students are changing, their needs are dynamic, and the world we’re sending them out into is ever-evolving. It is our job to continue finding innovative ways to reach the youth in our classrooms. Educators must be open-minded to changes and challenges that come our way. We must believe that what those same changes and challenges will make us better at our job, and, in turn, create lifelong learners of our students.
Teachers who demonstrate a growth mindset:
Collaborate with colleagues
Take ownership of mistakes and share them with students
Seek out assistance and mentoring
Share teaching goals with colleagues
Learn from weaknesses and challenges
Maintain a positive attitude and use positive language regarding their own abilities
So, at your next faculty meeting, before you scowl and snicker about the latest changes coming your way, stop and think about what you would tell your students. Maintaining a growth mindset can make you a happier, more successful educator.
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Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Did you know that using humor in your classroom can help your students learn? In a Monitor on Psychology (American Psychological Association) article titled “How laughing leads to learning,” author Zak Stambor reports “when used effectively, classroom comedy can improve student performance by reducing anxiety, boosting participation and increasing students’ motivation to focus on the material.”
Before you start jotting down those one-liners, consider the following guidelines before implementing comedy in the classroom:
Timing is everything. Plan out when you’re going to insert your comedy into your instruction. Students may remember the content better if it is tied to something memorable, like a humorous anecdote or joke.
Keep it appropriate. It’s best to avoid foul language, no matter how “mature” your students might be. Also, be sure the comedy is age appropriate. If students don’t understand the joke, it will have less impact.
Make it relevant. Your humor should be connected to the content being taught, but also to the students whom you are teaching. Don’t use an outdated joke for a modern concept. You’ll be hearing crickets instead of giggles.
Know your audience. Will the class lose focus if you get too silly? Adjust your level of humor and its frequency according to the needs of each class.
Get funny before a big test! Using a bit of comedy before a big test can reduce student anxiety and improve performance.
Don’t overuse it. You don’t have to be funny ALL the time. Your students may miss important content if you’re constantly cracking jokes.
Avoid sarcasm. Some students may not perceive your style of sarcasm and can be put off by your flavor of humor. Some people may also feel offended by sarcasm; they see it as a lack of respect.
What if I’m just not that funny? No need to worry. If you can’t get them laughing, you should at least be able to put a smile on your students’ faces using some of these suggestions:
Incorporate memes, videos, or songs
Add funny items to test/assignment questions
Post funny quotes in the classroom
Dedicate a bulletin board to jokes, cartoons, puns, etc. Ask students to bring in items.
Have a Joke-of-the-Day, invite students to share
Laugh at yourself, share with students your own ridiculous experiences and stories
Humor can be an effective teaching tool. Capturing the attention of students with a joke may help them remember content more clearly. A bit of classroom comedy can also lower student stress and anxiety levels and improve student engagement. Having a bit of a funny bone also makes you seem more human to your students, thus creating a more comfortable setting where students are more likely to learn.
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Speaking with students about traumatic topics can make any teacher uncomfortable. However, it is important to open up dialogue with students, especially when something distressing occurs. Our students are not immune to traumatic situations. Teachers play an important role in helping students process tragic events. Don’t shy away from talking to students about sad or scary situations. By speaking with your students, and having honest conversations, you send a message to your students that you care for them, support them, and will be available to them should they need you.
10 tips to remember before you begin talking about a difficult subject:
Make parents aware you’ll be discussing the event in your classroom
Find out what students know
Listen to students
Be as specific as possible, and clear up any misconceptions
Answer questions with facts, and if you don’t know, don’t speculate
Reassure students of their safety at school
Be prepared with plenty of resources – limit graphic pictures and videos
Talk about it – allow plenty of time for questions and discussion
Keep it simple – mostly for elementary students
It’s okay to get emotional – talk about why
After you’ve engaged your students in this emotional dialogue, don’t forget to take care of yourself. These conversations can wreak emotional havoc on you.
It’s okay to give yourself a break after your mentally exhausting discussions. Try to do things that will make you happy, lift your spirits, or have a positive impact. Avoid, or turn off, all sources of media . . . at least temporarily. Take a walk or do some yoga. Read an uplifting book. Spend time with family or friends. You can even do some volunteer work or get involved in activism group.
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Honor and celebrate George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other United States Presidents, this President’s Day. Use our FREE educator-curated resources to assist you with teaching your students about President’s Day.
Videos
President’s Day PBS LearningMedia – Presidents Day is an opportunity for the country to acknowledge the leaders of its government. See how it evolved from a birthday party for George Washington to an observance for all of the Presidents.
President’s Day Time For Kids -Learn what it takes to become president.
George Washington History.com -How did George Washington turn a rag-tag group of men into a disciplined fighting machine?
Humor of Abraham Lincoln History.com -Lincoln often utilized his sense of humor when making political statements, and also to silence his critics.
The Success of Abraham Lincoln History.com – Today he is known as one of the greatest American presidents, but at the time of his election no one would have predicted Lincoln’s success.
Presidents’ Day Lessons – Center for Civic Education – Teach your high school students about the constitutional legacy of George Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan this Presidents’ Day. These free, ready-to-use lessons will engage your students in learning about these important presidents and how they shaped the history and Constitution of our nation. Each lesson was written and reviewed by scholars and contains questions to test student knowledge. Elementary, middle, and high school students can learn the constitutional powers and limitations of the executive branch with our selection of classroom-proven lessons from our We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution student texts.
President’s Day Collection – Share My Lesson – In addition to free lesson plans, educational resources and classroom materials on the accomplishments of U.S. presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, you’ll find some unexpected gems to help your students learn about the instrumental work and lasting legacy of some former first ladies, too.
President’s Day Activities and Lessons The Teacher’s Corner – The Presidents Day seasonal pages will provide you with resources to help your students learn about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, as well as the office of President. Ideas within this section include: journal activities, lesson plans and internet resources.
21 Fun Presidents Day Activities and Crafts TipJunkie – Celebrating President’s Day can be so much fun with these 21 easy presidents day activities and crafts for kids. I’ve got free printables and templates for George Washington wigs, Abraham Lincoln’s hat, cabin crafts, President’s Day crafty food, and so much more!
What are your favorite President’s Day Lessons, Activities, or Videos?
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
The number of students who possess their own device is growing. So true is the number of students who bring said devices into the classroom. Whether you incorporate the use of student devices into your lessons or not, we found 3 creative ways you can manage student cell phones in your classroom.
Using a Stoplight Management Approach (Edutopia.org) The stoplight management approach allows teachers some flexibility to use cell phones when the situation warrants, but also to keep cell phones from becoming a diversion from the learning. This is how it works:Post a red button on the classroom door: Students know when they enter that cell phones should be put in their off location. The devices will not be used that day. The teacher should decide on the off location—the upper right-hand corner of the desk and turned face down, or away in backpacks, or in pocket holders on the teacher’s desk—the cell phone parking lot.Post a yellow button on the classroom door: Students know their cell phones should be on silent (vibrate) and placed face down in the upper right-hand corner of their desk. They will be using them in class, but not the whole time. Having the phones in plain sight—a bit out of reach and turned over—allows the teacher to easily scan the room to see who doesn’t have their device where it should be. It also makes it difficult for students to quickly peek at their text messages because they’d have to turn the phone over and move it from its correct position—which is more difficult than when cell phones are hidden under desks.
Post a green button on the classroom door: Students know they should have their phones turned on (either silenced or set on vibrate) and placed face up in ready position to use.
Create A Cell Phone Jail (TeachThought.com) Have you ever tried to have students leave their cell phones in their lockers and a mysterious glow comes from under their desk? I got tired of the cell phone shuffle and created a cell phone jail. My students had to check in their phones when class started. This accountability and equity eventually leads to focused minds in the classroom.
Cell Phone Parking Lot (TheTeacherToolKit.com) Make an area in your classroom where students can store and/or charge their cell phone. An idea would be to use a hanging shoe storage bag with individual pockets for each cell phone. Put a large number or picture on each pocket so that students can easily identify where they have stored their phones Option: Provide one or two power strips where students can plug in their phone in the “parking lot” for charging.
Teach students your class cell phone procedure.
Sample cell phone procedure:
When entering the classroom you may keep your phone out of sight in your purse or pocket. Or, you may store or charge your phone in the cell phone parking lot.
If you choose to use the cell phone parking lot for storage, place your phone in one of the numbered pockets. Remember the number where your phone is “parked” or write it down in your notebook.
If you choose to use the cell phone parking lot for charging, use your own charging cord. Plug your phone in to one of the power strips and then place your phone (still connected) into one of the lower pockets in the cell phone parking lot.
The cell phone parking lot is only accessible before and after class. If you plan to store or charge your phone, you may not go and get it during class time.
If your phone is not in the cell phone parking lot and is causing a distraction from work in class, you will be directed to “park” your phone and you may pick it up after class.
Students who do not comply or have repeated requests to park their phones will have their phones “towed.” A “towed” phone will be stored in the teacher’s desk and will not be returned until parents have been contacted.
Monitor student phone use during class. When students are improperly using their cell phones, direct them to park their phones in the cell phone parking lot. Encourage proper use of cell phones by regularly thanking students for remembering to use the cell phone parking lot.
In addition to having a classroom strategy for managing student devices, don’t forget to check out your school or district policy regarding cell phones and other devices that are not the property of the school or district. If your classroom system conflicts with the building policy, you may need to meet with your administrator.
How do you manage student devices in your classroom?
