The Secret of Building Resilient Kids: Growth Mindset

Pamela HallBlog, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Learn to teach kids that failure is a process and never a final state. Mistakes are opportunities to learn, to fail forward, and keep growing. Use picture books to teach resilience and grit. Growth Mindset: No More Giving Up! So often, kids say, “I can’t” or “It’s too hard.” So how do we instill the notion that failure is … Read More

The Belief of a Gifted Label

Todd StanleyBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better

TL;DR: Gifted students’ love of school varies. They have different abilities, interests, and needs. Gifted students need to be supported, challenged, and develop grit. The beliefs of a gifted label and the facts of a gifted label can sometimes be two very different things. When a child is deemed to be “gifted,” people liken this to an achievement like earning … Read More

Productive Struggle

Steven WeberBlog, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: What does a healthy or productive struggle look like in a classroom? Design classroom instruction with the end in mind and support students through a struggle. The opportunity to struggle through something offers so many benefits to kids! Student understanding requires productive struggle. Do students enter a risk-free classroom or do they engage in productive struggle on a regular … Read More

Persevere Better: Understanding Grit and Resilience

Sanam EdwardsBlog, Lead Better, Teach Happier

TL;DR: What are the differences between grit and resilience? Grit is an intrinsic quality within a person that drives them to keep going. Resilience allows you to bounce back from hardships. If you already have grit within you, resilience will allow that fire to stay alive. Grit and Resilience I recently engaged with my learning network members about the difference … Read More

There Is NO Hacking Life

Aaron ElseBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: When working towards success, “hacking life” is not the solution. Many self-help leaders and other successful individuals did not start that way. They had to overcome obstacles and put in the time to get where they are. Perfection can be achieved over time with hard work and persistence. Teachers are demonstrating this with their creativity and determination. There Is … Read More