The Amazing Brain

In October we hosted the Amazing Brain Workshop for Grade 6 and 7 students. What was the Amazing Brain about?  This workshop was for students who have an Individual Education Plan and want to learn more about themselves as learners.

On the first day, we looked at the brain in order to understand how we learn.

 On the second day, we looked at ourselves as learners...what are out strengths and weaknesses as learners.

 On the third day, we looked at IEP's:  what they are, what they contain, and 
what this document means.  Realizing that our students learn in many different contexts and have many different situations, (some students have never seen their IEP,) we used this as a session to talk generally about goals.

 What goals to they have for themselves as learners?  What areas do they have to work on is school?  What areas do they need to be "stretched" in?  What areas do they need support?

 Finally, we wanted students to discover how to be advocates for themselves:  how to understand their needs as learners, and how to shape their education.

 Here students are creating art: self portraits.

 Time lines about their lives:  present, one year from now, 3 years from now, 5 years from now, and as an adult.

Fixed Mind Set vs. Growth Mind Set

I have just been looking at this great poster that I downloaded about "Fixed and Growth Mind Sets".  There has been a great deal of research and writing about this concept over the last few years, and here is an interesting article in the NY times magazine about the research of Carol Dweck and her book.

Lately, I have been talking about this with my sons and using the language that  we have a "growth mindset". This poster

is on my fridge.   Yesterday we were talking about challenges, persisting in the face of roadblocks, and using effort as the path towards mastery.  My one son is involved in ski racing, and he is just beginning to learn about being in a competitive sport with lots of talented athletes.  So we used this chart to talk about how to persevere when things may not be going our way.  It was great to have the visuals and the language to discuss how we can think about set backs and challenges in our lives and in our learning.   

I would like to use this as a topic of discussion with students in the challenge centre.  It would be interesting to have students talk about their own mind sets.  If we can empower students to understand how their intelligence can be developed, then we are giving them tools for life.

As well, I have Carol Dweck's book on my reading list!

Fixed Mind Set vs. Growth Mind Set

I have just been looking at this great poster that I downloaded about "Fixed and Growth Mind Sets".  There has been a great deal of research and writing about this concept over the last few years, and here is an interesting article in the NY times magazine about the research of Carol Dweck and her book.

Lately, I have been talking about this with my sons and using the language that  we have a "growth mindset". This poster

is on my fridge.   Yesterday we were talking about challenges, persisting in the face of roadblocks, and using effort as the path towards mastery.  My one son is involved in ski racing, and he is just beginning to learn about being in a competitive sport with lots of talented athletes.  So we used this chart to talk about how to persevere when things may not be going our way.  It was great to have the visuals and the language to discuss how we can think about set backs and challenges in our lives and in our learning.   

I would like to use this as a topic of discussion with students in the challenge centre.  It would be interesting to have students talk about their own mind sets.  If we can empower students to understand how their intelligence can be developed, then we are giving them tools for life.

As well, I have Carol Dweck's book on my reading list!

Mind Your Brain

I am furiously planning the next Challenge Centre entitled,
Mind Your Brain.  Here, we will learn about the brain, psychology, and learning.  It will be very interesting for me as the teacher to work with these concepts with the students.

Hopefully students will return to their schools with new ideas about thinking and learning.  I will post more as the program unfolds.

Mind Your Brain

I am furiously planning the next Challenge Centre entitled,
Mind Your Brain.  Here, we will learn about the brain, psychology, and learning.  It will be very interesting for me as the teacher to work with these concepts with the students.

Hopefully students will return to their schools with new ideas about thinking and learning.  I will post more as the program unfolds.