The other month we had a staff training session.
You know the feeling right?
A whole day sitting, listening to someone chit chatting away about things that are totally irrelevant.
Techniques that will probably be forgotten by 95% of the people attending the course, as soon as they walk out.
But this time, there was something pretty major that I took away with me.
The training was all about Differentiation in the Classroom. In layman’s terms, that means how we can teach the same to all different levels of pupils. How we can cater for all within one lesson, and have each pupil leaving the classroom, feeling like they learned something.
It’s not an easy thing to do, from the Early Years through to the older children, but it is so important to actually present learning in a way that a child understands.
The speaker talked about mindsets, and specifically Fixed mindsets Vs. Growth mindsets.
Now, I found some images on Google that give you a bit of an idea about what these mindsets are.
In a nutshell, we have to, as educators, allow our pupils to have a Growth mindset. They need to feel that they can do it. They can learn something. They just have to keep on trying.
And in order for them to be able to develop this mindset, we need to have the same too.
Literally, the next day, I was talking to my own children, and Lil Man, who finds maths pretty tough, was chatting to me. I have never been much of a mathematician myself, and I was ready to sympathise with him, saying I was never great at maths too, but then I remembered what the lady said the day before. So I altered my own words to say that, yes, I was never the best at maths, but I hadn’t stopped learning, even to this day. In fact, I am ashamed to say, I don’t know my times tables by heart… thought with my own children learning them, I am getting better every day!
These statements below are a great way of altering your wording, so you can make any possible negative statement into a positive!
Since the training, I have been very mindful (We had to train on that, mindfulness, too once!) of the things I say, and how I say them.
Yes I hate sports, and I used to say I was never any good at them, but the fact of the matter is, I was pretty good at hockey, and netball. Discus and javelin, I loved. Badminton and tennis, again more physical pursuits that I enjoyed. I just enjoyed other things more, so I never developed the skills. Who knows, I may have been another Fatima Whitbread if I’d kept up the throwing!
Lil Princess loathes going to Punjabi school on a Saturday for 4 hours ( I would too!) but my in-laws were adamant that she should. I was always saying I wasn’t bothered about sending her, as I never learned how to read and write my mother tongue. I speak it well and understand it better than many Punjabi GCSE holders. But then I realised that I should be positive, for her sake. She may not be great at it, but if she carries on, it’s another feather in her bow. And If she really hates it still by July, we can stop it, but she won’t have been a quitter, she will have given it her all for this academic year.
The whole mindset thing, it’s really what I am about, actually. I have always been a glass half full kinda gal, seeing the silver lining, and I think that is really key to having that growth mindset. Positivity. Knowing that something can happen, and that things can change. It’s just sometimes it’s you that has to embrace change first and try your hardest!
So, the moral of Ritu’s latest ramblings?
Don’t think “I can’t!” think “ I’ll try!”.
Images courtesy of Google.
Apr 02, 2016 @ 21:14:31
That is JUST fascinating! What a wonderful program! I wish I’d known this when I was six and my father would review my report cards and say, “She’s just not good with math.” I HAD Bs THEN! Maybe he should have said I was good at math, or that I could get better at math. But then, I don’t suppose he knew this either…
I appreciate this post as a person, as a former teacher, and as a parent. What a fantastic tool.
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Apr 02, 2016 @ 21:45:33
Isn’t it great Joey! It has made me think again many times!
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 19:16:51
I’m 17 years old, going to graduate in less than a month and I still don’t know my math times table. I remember trying so hard back in the 2nd grade and giving up on it. I’ve been terrible when it comes to Math for as long as I could remember. And now I just really don’t know who takes the blame, maybe most of it is just my fault for never having much interest in the subject. :]
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 19:54:54
I’m 40 and still don’t know mine. .. but I do learn more n more as in try to get my own kids to learn!
I’ll never be a mathematician. .. but I can always learn ! (Or I’ll use a calculator! )
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 17:42:48
This is so good for any age. Even a fixed mind can be changed unfortunately
A growth one can too with a bad teacher or other bad influence. You must be very special.
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 17:47:09
That is very sweet of you to say, I’m touched 😊
It is true though. .. bad teaching, bad situations. .. they can a alter mindsets, which is why we need to try and create positive environments everywhere so both children and adults alike can benefit from that growth mindset 😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 15:59:07
And I’m trying to pin it but I can’t. Apparently the image format can’t be pinned. : (
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 16:00:41
How annoying!
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 16:04:33
Now I can – via the top right of my screen, but not via the share button you have at the bottom of your post. Weird! But hey! Pinned! Because it’s worth going back to read again. 😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 16:08:31
How strange! 🙂 At least you managed to pin it though!
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 15:56:49
Love this post, Ritu! Am in total agreement!
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 15:57:45
Thank you Ann… its a simple thing to change outlooks. .. but surprisingly hard to do as we are all so set on certain ways of thinking!
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 16:06:24
It is in the mindset. It’s a powerful thing. 😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 16:08:54
Very powerful indeed!!! 🙂
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 13:05:12
Love this and it is so true. I’m not sure if you follow Norah – http://norahcolvin.com/2016/03/29/adventures-in-learning/ – but she was an early years teacher in Oz and has begun to set up a series of on line aides. However her whole blog is dedicated to teaching as you do and you may find it interesting to dip in. I’ve actually met her too and she’s lovely. And tall. I mean really tall. And I can’t get my head around you as a discuss thrower or javelin!
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 13:17:46
Lol!!! I shall definitely check her blog out Geoffles! !! Thank you! 😊😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 09:13:21
Thank you for sharing this, Ritu. It is such an important lesson. I’ve bookmarked this to come back to again! 🙂
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 09:35:58
Thank you Al 😊
It is indeed a really important lesson… if we could all embrace it, it would change our outlook of the world 😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 09:45:05
I think this is one of those posts that you happen to read at just the right time for yourself 😀
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 10:00:29
I’m glad, if that is the case, that i may have been inspiring to you!
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 12:27:14
Definitely! ❤
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 13:16:59
😀😀😀
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 03:25:54
Oh it is all about the mindset, even for us adults! You can choose to be positive about something or negative and that will direct how it will turn out. I think it’s a wonderful thing to embrace the growth mindset, I wish all schools would. Let the right brain out as much as you do the left brain…it’s creativity that becomes inventions and new ideas. I bet if you continue to employ that on Lil Man and Lil Princess you will notice results, plus your students too. Good luck! 🙂
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 09:34:04
Thank you Deb, the planning there! I hope it will help not I
Only my kids but my pupils too 😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 11:28:02
Me too! I believe it will!! You should do a six month follow up post maybe or end of school year. 😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 11:30:27
Sounds like a plan! 😊
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 00:25:05
Great post! The way we word things has an impact not only on others but on ourselves as well. I love that chart. What a difference in mindset between the first column and the second. It would be terrific if this was taught in elementary school. That way people would start their lives on a positive note. 😀 xx
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Mar 30, 2016 @ 00:53:17
Thanks Vashti!
This is what we are aiming to do with out children in our school. .. give them the tools to have a growth mindset!
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Apr 01, 2016 @ 15:33:41
Great job.
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 20:08:56
This was a wonderful post, Sis. It really does make a difference the way we phrase things and out attitude towards them 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 20:11:13
Absolutely sis..I find myself wording things so differently to the kids now!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 20:34:01
Well, it sounds like it will pay off. 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 20:34:19
I hope so 😊😊😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 18:43:20
Great reminder for all of us to approach life and learning with a positive attitude!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 19:04:33
I hope it helps someone out there! !!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:21:01
Great inspiration Sister! For years I had to overcome shyness and change my mindset to give things a try. It’s a lot better than thinking about what could have been!!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:21:24
It’s all in our minds, so true!!! 😊😊😊😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:24:58
For sure!!! 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:26:11
😊😊😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:48:03
😊😊😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 16:50:15
That’s a good thing for all of us to remember.
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:05:04
Very true 😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 16:28:45
Great article, Ritu. I agree wholeheartedly… there is always something more to learn and that makes life such an adventure. If we can encourage children to see it that way, I feel we are opening the doors wider for them 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 16:32:57
Thank you Sue.
It’s the general way I think anyway. But the way this lady spoke inm our training with regards to encouraging children to be the best and do their best with a growth mindset was like a light bulb moment!
It’s obvious. Yet sometimes you need someone to shine a light for you to see!!!!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 16:34:58
You do 🙂 So many things we do actually know but don’t realise we know 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 16:42:14
Exactly!
Now I’m off to ‘positively’ shift this headache so I can enjoy some time with my parents! A 3 hour drive then ending up in bed was not my plan!!!!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:06:59
Oh no! Rest and feel better, Ritu!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 17:10:59
Thank you Sue! 😊😊😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 14:12:08
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
This could easily apply to writers and everyone else for that matter – Thank You Teacher Ritu 👍😃
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 13:51:19
Wonderful post, Ritu. So true that when you start being mindful in your own self-talk and direct it to positive wording, it will transfer to how we speak to our children and others. Love the chart with the mindset statements. #10 is one of my favorites in a world where you always need a Plan B or C. 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 14:50:02
Thank you for Reading Olga!
This thinking really changed my outlook!!!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 14:52:03
Mine too!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 14:52:24
😊😊😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 13:28:07
Wonderful post Ritu! Now if we could get all the teachers AND parents on board – wouldn’t that be great for all our kids! 🙂 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 13:48:27
It would Indeed! !! I really enjoyed this training!!!
Thank you for reading!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 13:56:32
My pleasure! 🙂
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 14:50:27
😀
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 13:21:02
I loved reading this post! I am a primary-school trained teacher (SAHM at the moment who tutors a couple of students). I think I grew up with a fixed mindset but my university course blew those myths out of the water and it has been an exciting journey ever since – realising that I can develop new skills and I don’t have to settle with “I can’t do this because I musn’t have the right brain/ ability for it”.
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 13:47:20
So good to hear!
It was a revelation to me… I do think positively most of the time, but this was so interesting! 😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 12:21:22
That way Inchanged my while life… changing the mindset for the benefit. Things are only hopeless when we believe they are. As you said: At least try it seriously!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 12:22:55
Gosh… sorry for the typos… typical typos when commenting from my phone 😝
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 12:35:33
Don’t worry sis, I’m sure mine are filled with types too!!!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 15:43:57
Nope, Sis! You are doing too well lately… haha!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 16:25:25
Lol!!! Don’t speak too soon! !!!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 21:38:16
LOL!!!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 12:34:59
It is definitely life changing your think like this! 😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 15:43:38
Totally! I won’t ever change that attitude anmore… have come too far with it… lol!
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 16:24:47
I am in firm agreement with you on that sis 😊😊😊
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Mar 29, 2016 @ 21:37:56
✋✋
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