For more years than I can remember, I have lived by the motto, "Improvise, adapt, and overcome." This school year, more so than the last 20 years, this motto has served me well. As a coach and a teacher, I have tried to teach my students that "I can't " should not be part of their vocabulary; but over the years, I have learned that simply adding the word "yet" to the end of that sentence has made all the difference in their motivation for improvement. Over the years, I have seen those students who really grab hold of the "yet" work their way from lower level middle school sports teams to varsity level high school teams--a few even to college teams. This growth mindset is what I try to instill in every one of my students.
As I have gotten older, I have discovered the NECESSITY of maintaining a growth mindset. Without it, I just don't think I would have survived this long as an educator. This pandemic has changed the face of education, and I have watched teachers with a fixed mindset panic, cry, and even quit. Those who continue to improvise, adapt and overcome, still get frustrated ( and maybe cry a little), but they keep pushing through, finding solutions to the problems they run into, and working collaboratively with others to help them along the way as well.
In the 2nd nine weeks, my AVID classes will be discussing Growth mindset and how having one can help you be successful in school, in work, and in LIFE!
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