A great strip from Calvin and Hobbes for opening up a discussion about hard work, being “smart,” and mindsets in the classroom.
All AboutSocial & Emotional Needs
When we pay attention to academics, but not to our students' social emotional needs, we're missing half of the picture.
Success Isn’t A Straight Line
Students I speak to have a powerful fear of making a life-altering mistake in their teens. Whether it’s a low grade, an easy class, or the wrong extracurricular, students think that an early error will derail their entire lives. They see life as a straight line.
Don’t Say “Great job!”
Not only is vague praise less useful than a specific compliment, but, combined with easy tasks, it can even be damaging to students’ belief in their abilities.
Self Control Is A Limited Resource
The wise teacher knows how hard to push her class and when to ease up, because self control is a limited resource for everyone.
Dino Obsession: Intellectual Overexcitability In Action
If you’re wondering what an “intellectual overexcitability” might look like, here’s me in kindergarten…
The Real Causes of Procrastination
Joanne Foster led an interesting session about the true causes of students’ procrastination. It’s more complex than simple laziness.
Calvin, High-Energy, and Sports
This comic highlights an additionally unfortunate issue high-energy kids suffer from: they’re physically active, yet may not be particularly interested in sports.
Understanding High Energy Gifted Kids
To understand how giftedness and physical energy are connected, stop picturing a fidgety kid interrupting the class. Instead imagine him deeply engrossed in his favorite activity.
Why Gifted Kids May Not Be Great Tutors
It’s so easy to assume gifted kids will be the academic leaders in a classroom. Beacons of light for the other kids to follow. Dina Brulles and Susan Winebrenner explain the problem…
Gifted Children and Anxiety
The obvious benefit of gifted students’ increased sensitivity is that they learn faster, since they pick up on so much more. But this sensitivity also has a dark side: turning our kids into anxious worriers.