The Happy Learning Den

Oh my goodness!  It's been a month since I last wrote anything!

That should tell you how busy my students have been learning!  (And I don't have to tell you, dear reader, how the amount of their learning directly correlates to the amount of my planning and teaching.)

Open House was a huge success!  Nine parents showed up, which meant 9 students earned Brag Tags just for their parents attendance.  They were so cute about it.  One student remarked that she liked getting a Brag Tag for "begging" her mom to attend Open House.  Whatever works, right?  ;-)

Here's an update on what we have been learning in class...

Math
We continue to work on P.E.M.D.A.S.... or Order of Operations.... you remember that right? Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.... which means... Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication and/or Division, Addition and/ or Subtraction. It's been a struggle because many of my students struggle with simple multiplication and division.  However, they will survive and grow stronger math brains.  I created a PEMDAS scoot game that students have been playing, and loving!  It is such a great feeling when students have a good time learning/ relearning a skill!

I have also been teaching students what seems like 1,000 different ways to divide.  Hopefully, one way will stick.  Practice, practice, practice!

Social Studies
As difficult as it was to discuss September 11th (2001) with my class, they did learn a lot.  I showed a PowerPoint with September 11th facts.  It had photos of what the Twin Towers looked like before that horrific day, and then of the planes hitting the Towers and smoke billowing out of the windows.  One of my new teacher friends sent me a great craft where students drew  themselves and wrote about how they can change the world.  Of course we had a discussion first of what things they can do as 10 and 11 year olds to make the world a better place... wow!  These students of mine!  I love what they came up with!  Ideas like: making sure everyone is included at recess so no one feels left out, talking to everyone at the table so no one feels sad, making new friends every year no matter a person's skin color, religion, disability, or whether they are a boy or a girl...
But one student comment  really created a lively discussion... How come the terrorists have hate in their heart?   Out of the mouths of babes... one student thought that maybe when the terrorists were their age no one was nice to them, another thought that they were bullied.... I let them discuss this without input from me for a few minutes.... and then had students work on the craft/ writing activity.  They came out better that I had expected!

Science
We have been learning about weather and climate.  Using a lot of videos, journaling, reading the text book, classroom discussion ... I really do love journals in the classroom!


Reading & Writing
I have been teaching one skill per week in Reading, and then testing students on that specific skill/ standard at the end of the week.  In other words, one week I taught finding the Main Idea and supporting details.  The next week was Cause and Effect, and the week after was Problem and Solution.  I have a journal activity each week as well as a test at the end of the week.  Journaling allow students to work together, to learn from one another as they apply the concept to an activity.  Testing, obviously, is completed independently or within a small group- often I find that I need to read the content to my students who are significantly below grade level.  This way they are still able to demonstrate mastery of the standard, but are given a little support.

I hope you are having a successful year so far.  Try to relax a little... go to the spa, bubble bath, hang out with friends and family.  Best wishes to you all this year!
Happy Learning!
Happy Teaching!
~Sandra @The Happy Learning Den

Hallway Bulletin Board: Change Your Words, Change Your Mindset

Over my years of teaching, I have come across several students who firmly believed that they were stupid if they made mistakes, that they were not good enough when faced with a challenge, and/ or that they would never understand so why try.   Of course I spoke with students, referred many to our guidance counselor and had parent conferences.  But year after year, there was always one student who had a fixed mindset.  I never new how to fight back against those negative beliefs or  mindsets until this past summer.  I was so excited to learn about how teaching a growth mindset can positively impact a student's academic performance and desire to learn that I spent the summer reading about fixed vs. growth mindset.  Based on what I read, I created posters and activities to use with my students this year.  If you are interested, this is a direct link to that product.

I decided to not only teach Fixed vs. Growth Mindset this year, but to also use Brag Tags.  I purchased and downloaded many freebies and have been using both with fidelity since the first day of school- 2 weeks ago.  My students LOVE it!  I put all the brag tag necklaces on one bulletin board with the posters I created above them, to look like a banner.  The bulletin board is in the front of the room.  This way every time they line up or put a brag tag on their necklace they are reading posters such as:
1.) Mistakes are proof that you are trying. Never Give Up!
2.) I have not failed.  I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~Albert Einstein
3.) I will persist until I succeed.  Keep trying.

The first thing I taught students was that their brain is always growing and that challenges are actually good for them.  I asked students if they have any baby brothers or sisters.  (Many raised their hands.)  I asked if their baby brothers and sisters were born knowing how to walk.  Then we had a conversation about how it is difficult for a baby to learn to walk.  They told stories about siblings falling over and over and laughing each time they fell, but they always got up.  We discussed that this was challenging for their baby brothers and sisters, but with practice they got better... and how their brain goes through growth every time they learn something new.

I asked students to tell about a time they were learning something new.  Something that they really wanted to learn, but was frustrating for them.  The key to this, not only did I want them to share something that used to be challenging for them to learn... but that now they felt that they were experts at it. Once all students who wanted to shared, we talked about what they all had in common.  I led them to discuss that they practiced and practiced and practiced some more.  That they didn't give up.  Their mindset allowed them to learn ride a bike, learn to skateboard, to learn to dance, etc.  That this is called a growth mindset, and I told them that they were going to learn the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset this year.

They next day to review we played a quick game.  I said a statement that was either a fixed or growth mindset.  If it was a fixed mindset, students folded their arms across their chests.  If it was a growth mindset, students were to raise both hands in the air.  I used statements such as:
1.) I'm just not good at math.  (fixed)
2.) I'll never get good at this.  (fixed)
3.) I'll get better at this if I keep trying.  (growth)
4.) This is good enough.          (fixed)
5.) I am going to make this super-duper!  (growth)

We played this game for about two minutes, and then I passed out a cut and paste activity that I created with four growth mindsets and six fixed mindsets.  Students were given two options.  They could work with a partner or work by themselves.  Of course, they all chose to work with a partner. But I still wanted to give the option just in case.

Over these first 2 weeks of school I have been teaching my rules, procedures, how to earn brag tags, and practicing using a growth mindset vs giving up (fixed mindset).  What I didn't anticipate was how effective it was going to be right away.  I have never had so many students try every single problem on the math prerequisite test and beginning of the year math test.  As I walked around the room, students were erasing and starting over and over and over.  Two students told me when they did turn in their tests that they felt their brains growing during the test!  I promise I only smiled!  :-)

I had my students create two mindset cellphone selfies.  The first one shows each student's drawing of themselves and a speech bubble above their cellphone selfie "saying" something they used to say that is fixed.  The one to the right is of a cellphone selfie drawing and a speech bubble "saying" their new thought  (growth mindset).  It came out better than I dreamed.

I am one happy teacher!
Happy Teaching!
Happy Learning!
Sandra @The Happy Learning Den

Below you will see some closeups of student work.  Enjoy!  Please feel free to share in the comments section below how you teach fixed vs. growth mindset to your students.

Fixed Mindset = Plan A didn't work. Growth Mindset = Good thing the alphabet has 25 more.

Fixed Mindset = I give up! Growth Mindset = I may stop, but I'm not giving up!

Fixed Mindset = This is good enough. Growth Mindset = I better recheck this.

Fixed Mindset = I'm not good at this. Growth Mindset = I'm on the right track.

Fixed Mindset = He's better than me. Growth Mindset = Soon I will be smart as him.

Fixed Mindset = I just can't do this! Growth Mindset = I can do this with some more practice.

Today was my 19th first day of teaching.  I always know that I am going to be drained, but I always forget exactly to what extent.  Here are a few thoughts that ran through my head today:

1.) I wonder if I can get away with wearing slippers to school tomorrow.

2.) I need chart paper for my to-do list.

3.) Oh summer!  I miss being able to go to the bathroom whenever I wanted to.

4.) Coffee!  I need more coffee!
 
5.) 6 pm is a reasonable bedtime for tonight, right?

6.)  My heart is bursting!  These kiddos are great!

What were your thoughts today?

Have a great school year,
Sandra @The Happy Learning Den