I was so excited to start Horizon up again with these amazing kids - old and new!  We spent time building connections with a hexagonal activity along with learning how our classroom works.  Our brains got a good workout as we tackled Einstein’s Riddle using critical thinking and teamwork.  It was challenging, but everyone stuck with it!  We also began exploring the Mystery of Me, diving into our personalities and discovering what makes each of us unique. 

This week was all about knowing ourselves as learners and becoming intentional about our growth!  

We reviewed the Scholarly Behaviors/Habits and talked about how these habits can help us become stronger thinkers, learners, and problem-solvers.  Then, we graphed our MAP scores and took a closer look at our own learning data.  Students reflected on their scores and identified which Scholarly Habit could help them grow between now and our middle-of-year MAP test.  From there, they created a personal goal along with an action plan for how they will work toward it.

We also tackled the Impossible Paper Puzzle!  Students had a chance to experience what happens when we face something that seems impossible.  We paid close attention to the messages we give ourselves when we struggle and then used it to introduce what it means to have a "growth mindset".  We are learning that growth isn't just something that happens to us...it's something we can actively work toward! 

Today was all about THINKING!  We learned about helpful strategies that improve "effective practice" and explore how practice can actually change our brains.  We learned that axons in our brain have a myelin covering that helps neural signals travel efficiently.  With practice, the brain can strengthen and refine these neural pathways, helping us become faster and more efficient at a skill.  How amazing is that!?  

We also learned about the connection of success and GRIT!  We talked about how having a growth mindset (believing that our abilities can develop through effort, strategies, dand learning from mistakes) can help us persevere when something is challenging. 

And because our gifted brain has so many thoughts and ideas, we learned about the "Six Thinking Hats".  This strategy helps us intentionally focus on one style of thinking at a time as we solve a problem or plan a project. Our students are now putting their thinking hats to work as they plan a School Spirit Week, and I can't wait to see what they come up with!