Growth Mindset takes the attitude of "I can't do this" to "I can't do this YET!" Thanks to a study done by Carol Dweck and her colleagues, we have learned that students who have a Fixed Mindset (the "I can't do this" mentality) will often shut down when exposure to a new concept becomes too challenging, or they feel they are unable to complete the task and will essentially give up. 

We are dedicated  to helping students change that mindset from a fixed to a growth perspective.  A Growth Mindset allows students to add the "YET!" portion to how they view themselves as learners. It helps students develop clear steps towards meeting a goal.  We encourage them to choose something they want to get better at: academic or personal goals, create three doable steps they think will help them achieve their goal, and focus on those steps one at a time. This is also the time we teach them we learn best through making mistakes and learning from them, as well as how powerful asking for help can be. 

If you ever hear your student want to give up, say they can't do something, or say they aren't smart...encourage them by asking why they think that and what they can do to change it, and remind them that they can't do it....YET!

We love character traits! They are so important for human development. They allow students to focus on how to be better people all around. We try to focus on ones that we feel best fit the situation at the time so students get a deeper understanding of what they actually mean. 

Each month we will focus on a different character trait. Some of these character traits include: Courage, Responsibility, Initiative, Teamwork, Friendship, Gratitude, Forgiveness, Compassion, Flexibility, and Respect.