Gator Gazette
February Newsletter
What is a False Growth Mindset?
Carol Dweck, the mindset guru, has written this clarifying article on recognizing and overcoming behaviors that are not Growth Mindset. Jennifer Bisballe has this Growth Mindset thing down. Today I was eavesdropping as she was talking to a student about their effort and growth. Her words were a masterful blend of truth, encouragement and praising the effort that was being made, a great example of Growth Mindset. In this article Dweck warns that are not all teachers are as careful with their words and shares some strategies for overcoming these behaviors. Dweck warns against not including the truth in your conversations with students. Other pitfalls are telling every student that "you can do anything" or blaming a student's mindset for their failure to learn. Often just an awareness can keep us on the right track.
Unite for Literacy
Unite for Literacy is a great website that offers non-fiction picture books for young readers for free. Kids can read or be read to. Tabs across the top break the books into categories. The Narration tab offers many languages in which the books can be read. A login is not required. You could even have your students save an icon to their homescreen that looks like as app icon. This would take them right to the site without always having to login.
53 Ways to Check for Understanding
Lego Story Starters
Do your students need help coming up with creative writing ideas? Here is a great idea using Lego pieces and a tray from the Dollar Store. You number the tray sections and put various Lego people and Lego props in the sections. You can arrange any objects in any order in the tray and have students select pieces from specific sections to create a story.
Students Pay Students
I just had a conversation with Lynette who is doing something amazing in writing and gives all the credit to Linda Fullhart (Owner of Owl Publishing). When her students complete a writing composition they are paid 10 Gator Bucks in advance for their for their completed work. They then have to hire 3 editors to edit their work and pay them each 1-3 Gator Bucks depending on their skills. The students fill out a contract with the editor that they choose. Editors edit the paper based on their area of specialty which includes; grammar augmenters, plot perfectionists, vocabulary boosters and fact checkers. Editing is done through comments in Google Docs. If the writer felt that the editor did not meet expectations they could fill out a dispute form called a Breach of Contract Complaint and meet with the owner of the publishing company (the teacher). For a final conference the author meets with the owner to compare all of the drafts of the composition. The final draft is then published. Lynette made some changes to make this work in 3rd grade. Linda gives credit to Ian Byrd but would be happy to talk to anyone about this great idea.
Love One Another
It's easy to love your work when you love who you work with. Let's take some time in this month of love to love on one another. Come by my office grab a pen off the door and write a note to one(or more) of your co-workers letting them know what you appreciate about them or letting the rest of us know how they make your load lighter. Make sure you stop by to read what has been written. You just might be the one being loved on.
"Come and Get It"
On March 2nd Cristi Strang will be in the Conference Room all day to answer your questions or just be available. K-3 might even want to consider planning Science as a team during that time. As always, I will be serving themed snacks. Sweet and Salty Mixtures and Solutions are what I came up with for this Science day. Hope you will plan on attending.
Got Dirt?
If you don't have cloths for your students to use to clean their iPad screens come by to see me and grab a set of 4 microfiber cloths for your classroom.
Sherlock Visit Yourself!
Let me video you teaching! You will be surprised at what you see. I have done it and had to muster up some bravery to agree to having it done. I don't regret it and would certainly do it again. It is an incredible reflection and growth tool. Please consider it. I am not your evaluator so I would not ever come to judge, just to hold the iPad. You could choose to have me sit with you to listen as you talk through it afterwards or not. I promise you won't regret it. You are all great teachers and better at your job than you think you are.
Email: jeanette.fink@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/2090
Location: ext. 2506
Phone: 817-845-6497
Twitter: @GHESGators