Excellence in Education: Instilling Grit, Recognizing Effort, and Respecting Our Students
Wednesday at 5pm, I came across 2 juniors who stayed after to get help with Algebra II. I complimented them for their efforts. Coincidentally, the next day one of the students (I’ll call her Lauren) and her counselor and Ms. Di Battista told me that she had been thinking about dropping Algebra II. She agreed to stick it out for a little bit longer.
Thursday, when Lauren approached me, she was excited. “I got an 80% on the math test. Staying after was really helpful.” Through dedication--both teacher and student--and hard work, a love of learning and resilience emerges. Additionally, Lauren’s capacity to decide whether to persevere or self-regulate is an equally valuable life experience. And herein lies on of the challenges associated with grit. Grit or “stick-to-itness” is undoubtedly an important life skill but so to is happiness and psychological health. Grit should never lead to extended unhappiness and the requirement to never giving up and do one thing and keep doing it.
As a basketball coach, I remember one of my seniors coming to me and my assistant after a game one day. “Coach, I’m ready to quit.” She then went on to lay out her reasoning.
My assistant coach tried to convince her to stick-it-0ut. “You’re a valuable part of the team. You’re team is counting on you.” For me it was much more simple, “Are you enjoying yourself?” When her answer was, “no” I encouraged her to spend the night thinking about it and to see me tomorrow with her decision. My assistant and I stayed late that night dissecting the game and also our approach to this. I remember saying something along the lines of, “I don’t ever want anyone to quit--I’ve never quit--but it’s more important to her that she’s happy. And, if she’s not happy, it’ll soon affect the entire team.”
The next morning she came to my classroom and confirmed that she was done. I didn’t disparage her decision and I actually found myself appreciating her decision.
Of course, this is not to say that individually or collectively we should abandon our efforts to instill a growth mindset and grit into our students, but we shouldn’t over-emphasize perseverance. It’s important for us to help our students learn self-discipline, to take responsibility for their choices and become self-efficacious. Finding the appropriate balance between instilling grit and respecting our students’ wishes and their background, is a challenge and can only be done when we get to know each of our students as individuals.
9 Ways of Instilling Effort and Grit While Respecting Our Students
- Allow students to recover and learn from their mistakes whether disciplinary or academic and facilitating appropriate responses (redos and retakes, for example) to these.
- Provide students with descriptive feedback that focuses on their efforts towards their own goals.
- Offer one-to-one attention and create a culture of social and academic belonging.
- Remain positive and uplifting.
- Maintain high and individualized expectations for all our students
- Invest attention and effort to ensure each student can be successful.
- Convey in each student that we believe in them and see their potential.
- Scaffold our approaches academically and in regards to motivation to ensure student tenacity.
- Respect and embrace students’ culture, family and economic status.
What would you add to the list?
Need to Knows
Mustang Morning:
- Next week is the last week of our current Mustang Morning set-up. For the second week in October, we’ll be adding SOL Remediation sessions which may necessitate some other changes as well.
- If you have a change to make to your Mustang Morning assignment, please complete this form .
- We will be having a Mustang Morning Committee Meeting on Tuesday. Please share your input with Anthony Smith, Chris Stanek, David Waters, John Kinney, Jeremy Dove, William Trent, Rob Garland. If you’d like to join this standing committee, please let me know.
Spirit Week
Monday - Jersey Day
Tuesday - Tourist Day
Wednesday - Generations Day - (9th and 10th grade students dress like babies, 11th grade students dress like parents, 12th grade students dress like senior citizens). You can choose whatever generation you want to, ex. Maybe if you teach 9th grade students dress like a baby? Or dress like your favorite generation? Your choice
Thursday - Rep A Country Day
Friday - Rave Day (Neon/metallic)
Ms. Meade is still in need of chaperones for the second shift of Homecoming. Please contact her if you're willing.
Upcoming Dates
September 24: Senior Picture Retakes
September 27: End of Interim Period
October 2: Interim grades locked
October 4: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Ms. Meade is still in need of chaperones for the second shift of Homecoming. Please contact her if you're willing.
Young Adult Literature PD
- Everyone is cordially invited to earn some of the easiest and fun PD points around... by reading some great young adult literature!!
- The YA Lit Book Club will reconvene again this year, starting at the end of this month. ALL content areas are encouraged to participate. It's good for all of us to be reminded what being a teengager is like. Free copies of this month's selection The Hate U Give, are available.
- More info, the schedule and this year's book list is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13f47sGCPZvtTXlhApS52rrUkRjYWL0hzZ-71T6FRpnU/edit?usp=sharing
Field Trips and SOLs
Stats of the Week: Internet Connectivity at Home
When you are at home or where you live most of the time, how do you usually get online to do homework or get class or school information?
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National
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State
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District
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Monticello
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Use a computer with a slow Internet connection (like dialup through a landline)
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4%
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4%
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5%
|
6%
|
Use a computer with a hardwired, fast Internet connection (like DSL, Broadband, or cable)
|
20%
|
22%
|
25%
|
24%
|
Use a family computer or laptop that connects to the Internet via Wifi
|
18%
|
14%
|
14%
|
13%
|
Use family members' smartphones and tablets that connect to the Internet via Wifi
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2%
|
1%
|
1%
|
2%
|
Use my own smartphone or tablet that connects to the Internet via Wifi
|
30%
|
20%
|
15%
|
17%
|
Use school provided laptops or tablets that connect to the Internet via Wifi
|
22%
|
36%
|
37%
|
34%
|
I cannot access the Internet when I am at home
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4%
|
3%
|
3%
|
4%
|
Birthdays
None
Shout Outs
What a great job by our Diversity Resource Team at creating valuable PD for us all! The team consists of Ashae Bush, Gwen Reynolds, Anthony Smith, Katina Dudley, Paul Jones, Lars Holmstrom, Jennifer Timms, Deandra Irving, Lynn Waidelich, Kelly Kroese, and Reagan Stillerman.
This group met several times last year and over the summer to plan for this year’s PD. They continue to meet monthly to plan activities and debrief. If you’re interested in joining this squad, let Paul know.
Useful Information
Bell Schedules : http://bit.ly/MOHSbells
Morning Announcement Stream: http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/links.htm
Worth Your Time
Thousands more A’s fill report cards in suburban Maryland school system An interesting conversation around grading practices
Highlighted by revamped accreditation system, Virginia implements federal education plan This is a great article summarizing the changes to the Standards of Accreditation that we briefly looked at on Friday.
Pep Rally Schedule (Anchor Day)
September 28
No Mentorship or Club Day, No Long Lunch
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Zero: 7:40-8:40
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1A: 8:55-9:35 (40 minutes)
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1B: 9:40-10:15 (35 minutes)
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2A: 10:20-10:55 (35 minutes)
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2B: 11:00-11:35 (35 minutes)
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3A: 12:40-1:15
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3B: 1:20-1:55 (35 minutes)
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4A: 2:00-2:35 (35 minutes)
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4B: 2:40-3:15 (35 minutes)
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Pep Rally: 3:15-3:50
Please wait for the band or an announcement to dismiss your class.
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AM CATEC: Students leave 8:55 (10:10-11:50 at CATEC)
PM CATEC: Students leave at 12:30 (12:45-2:45 at CATEC)
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