Mindset in Action
The Story of our School
Jill Balzer, Principal at Charles Patterson Middle School in Killeen, TX, on how Mindset transformed their school culture
Charles Patterson Middle School, is located in Killeen, Texas which is also home to one of the largest military institutions in the world, Fort Hood. Our student population is diverse; 44% are Active Military, 40% are economically disadvantaged, 38% are African American, 31% White, 27% Hispanic, and 4% Asian/Pacific Islander. The wide array of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds provides the students and teachers at CPMS with unique opportunities. With this variety in life experiences and an annual mobility rate of over 40% comes the constant search by our staff to look for ways to improve the quality of our students’ lives. We believe that this is best accomplished by giving them tools that they will be able to take with them wherever they may go. As a public school educator for 18 years (13 years as a teacher and 5 as an administrator) I have seen a myriad of education programs come and go...
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Growth Mindset News and Tips
Brainology fall implementations: GET READY!
As we excitedly prepare for upcoming Brainology implementations, we encourage you to view the following video. It provides an overview of the Brainology curriculum, offers useful tips for teaching online lessons, and describes how to plan for an efective implementation.Watch the video!
Enjoying the Journey of Parenting
Nita Talwar, PCI Certified Parent Coach, on how to approach parenting challenges using Mindset techniques
My journey through life has led me to many unexpected places, from various roles in the apparel industry to an executive position in the home industry, then later into freelance photography. Now, as a PCI-certified Parent Coach, I feel that I have come closer to my authentic self and found my ideal vocation. Although I truly enjoy my role of helping others, I have arrived here through successfully overcoming bumps in the road both professionally and personally. Setbacks ranging from career disappointments to health crises have taught me the importance of a Growth Mindset. I have now progressed into a vocation that I am passionate. Would you say that I have a Growth Mindset? I say yes, and no. It is a something that I continuously work on. After reading Carol Dweck’s research, I intentionally changed my language when speaking with parents about the challenges they encountered with their children; I discussed how they were addressing challenges, as well as the effort they would need to put forth in order to reach their preferred futures with their children. I emphasize that the process of working towards something is what’s important, whether it’s potty training, making the team or acing an exam. I have found that parents who focus on the process instead of the outcome will see their children grow and flourish. In line with this, I encourage parents to develop a Growth Mindset, which in turn will help their children develop one.
How does a Parent Coaching journey begin?
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The Growth Minded Educator Contest
The Growth Minded Educator Contest is our way of capturing and sharing collective learning and recognizing the efforts that educators have put into instilling and cultivating a Growth Mindset environment. This month’s question would also help you reflect on your targeted practices for the upcoming academic year.
Enter the next Growth Minded Educator Contest
Hurry up! The contest will end on August 31st! All entrants have a chance to win an autographed copy of Carol Dweck's book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Contest Question: What techniques are you planning to use to increase student motivation during the next school year? Please share at least one classroom activity that you are planning to use. (Suggested length: 150 words or less) Email your answers to newsletter@brainology.us by August 31st, 2011. We’ll review each answer and announce the winning Growth Minded Educator in the following newsletter. If you have any questions regarding the contest, please post a comment or email us at newsletter@brainology.us
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Write comments at the bottom of any of the articles, and if you have more to say, consider writing a guest blog/newsletter post. Email us at newsletter@brainology.us to let us know of your guest post idea.
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