In my previous post I referred to Carol Dweck’s research. Her new book, Mindset - the New Psychology of Success (how we can learn to fulfill our potential), is aimed at the general public and is much more accessible as an easier read.
The original research work was presented in her book Self Theories in 2000. This was a very difficult book to read, being aimed at professionals. Three years ago I took the time to study it and produced a presentation for staff. Subsequently, I uploaded it to Slideshare. It has received over 4,700 views - and little wonder since it was embedded into Carol Dweck’s website Brainology.
It is about time I brought the presentation up-to-date since, in her new book, Carol Dweck has changed the naming of the two mindsets: Entity Theorists have become Fixed Mindsets and Incremental Theorists have become Growth Mindsets. Much better terms to use.
Mindset: how we can learn to fulfill our potential.
December 1st, 2009“You’re smart!” vs “You must have worked really hard!”
September 25th, 2009I have mentioned the work of Carol Dweck in this blog before. She is a US based university professor who has written books about her research into praise and effort.
There are various books now available on this topic and these are summarised in a recent ABC News article. It is very worthwhile to read this.
In essence, “blind” praising of children is counterproductive. In one of her early experiments various tasks were given and the praise was different - one group of children were told, “You must be smart at this.” Other students were praised for their effort: “You must have worked really hard.” Guess what? The ones praised for their effort were more willing to take on the more difficult tasks as these were given. Those that thought themselves “smart” or clever, dropped out.
Dweck had suspected that praise could backfire, but even she was surprised by the magnitude of the effect. “Emphasizing effort gives a child a variable that they can control,” she explains. “They come to see themselves as in control of their success.
Emphasizing natural intelligence takes it out of the child’s control, and it provides no good recipe for responding to a failure.” In follow-up interviews, Dweck discovered that those who think that innate intelligence is the key to success begin to discount the importance of effort. I am smart, the kids’ reasoning goes; I don’t need to put out effort. Expending effort becomes stigmatized—it’s public proof that you can’t cut it on your natural gifts.
Here was my original blog post on Carol Dweck.
And here is a good summary from various sources: (thanks to Doug Belshaw)
Scholarships and Honor Societies
September 18th, 2009It is really pleasing to receive mails from our alumni telling us of what they have been up to.
Eloisa Portillo (ABC 2008) wrote recently to describe the scholarships that she has been offered and also the induction into the honor society. This is what she said in two e-mails:
“I was checking my emails today in the morning and I got some of the greatest news ever and I immediately wanted to share it with you! I have been awarded the Good Neighbor Scholarship for three upcoming semesters (fall 2009, Spring 2010 and Summer 2010). I am really excited. I called my parents today in the morning and they were also excited and happy.
This past weekend (yesterday, actually) I was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Mu Tau chapter. It is an honor society dedicated only for college students with a 3.5 gpa or higher. Out of the 25,000 students from the college I
am attending, only 72 were inducted yesterday into the prestigious honor society Phi Theta Kappa, and I had the honor to be a part of that group with a current 4.0 gpa.
The Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony was not at all creepy or unpleasant. I did feel weird at the beginning as I too believe I have watched many wrong movies. It was a nice ceremony and I had to swear to abide to the 4 main
components of Phi Theta Kappa (Leadership, Scholarship, Fellowship and Service). If you are interested, you could probably look through their website http://www.ptk.org/ but Phi Theta Kappa’s mission is: ” to recognize and
encourage scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunity for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and
ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence.
Once again, I belong to the Alpha Mu Tau Chapter which (out of like 12,000 chapters in the US) has been recognized to be in the top 25. The chapters are just the ways in which each college or university represents itself.
It is to make the immediate link between the university and the Phi Theta Kappa members. By being a member of this honor society I have benefits such as recognition, scholarships, internships at top companies and even
discounts at things such as car insurance, health insurance and many other things. Because I was just inducted yesterday I have not been able to fully participate in the honor society but I am now able to do so and I am
definitely looking forward to it.
I also forgot to mention that I am (from the beginning of this semester) part of the Honor’s Institute at my College since am taking 2 honor courses and I was also chosen, by the Honor’s Director, to represent the Honor’s Institute and to write in the Honor’s Blog as a student to encourage and motivate current students to join the institute. I have only posted 2 blogs so far (since the website started running only 2 weeks ago) and please feel free to check it out at http://www.ccccd.edu/honors/ under blog.
Lastly, I definitely feel comfortable if you want to share my news on the school’s website. As a student at the ABC
I always felt I was only taking advantage of the ABC without ever giving something back, which, is what lead me to pursue the role of Head Student; a position which I felt would allow me to give something back to the school and
the school’s community. And by being featured in the school’s website, well, lets just say I feel it is another way in which I can give something back to the ABC as well.
What I learned at the ABC has, without a doubt, opened many doors for me in less than one year from graduating and for that, I am forever grateful. I know that it is because of the way in which the ABC gave me true leadership,
academic and personal growth that I have been succeeding in my first year of college. I am really happy and pleased of what I have been able to achieve so far and I look forward for the future.
Once again, I would like to thank you so much for the opportunities and for the many ways in which I was able to develop as a student at the ABC.”
HM’s Ambassador visits the ABC
September 11th, 2009Julie Chappell, the new British Ambassador, visited the ABC. She was met by our Head Students, Jimena and Juan Carlos.
Ms Chappell met with me and then toured the school. We managed to get around to most areas so as to return to the LRC to meet British teachers.
It was clear that she enjoyed meeting our students and watching classes in action. In one 5th grade class, Ms Chappell was particularly interested in a Life Skills exercise on what students thought that they would be doing in 2, 5, 10 years time. She was able to read the ambitions of several girls and commented favourably on these.
Responsibility and being a Team Player
August 30th, 2009Responsibility and being a Team Player are ABC Values and Traits.
We think that we work well in these areas. But I do not think that we should shirk from saying it as it is when we do not.
The National Student Swimming Championships were held on Thursday and we got a very credible third place trophy for the Junior Swimmers and fourth place overall. Good. But let me tell you another bit of the story behind this.
Fifty three of the sixty three swimmers who participated in the departmental championships (which we won) were selected by the Federation, on the basis of their times, as being eligible to swim. This indeed was an honour. It would be a long day but a great experience, with all the best student swimmers in the country participating.
However, only 35 ABC swimmers chose to show their Team Player qualities and swam on that day. Worse, only 15 returned to swim in the afternoon of that day. The ABC, surprisingly, was in third place overall at event 60 out of 68 events. Then came the relays. We had hardly anyone to swim them.
Many parents took their children away in the afternoon. Even worse, unforgiveably worse, some said that they were bringing them back after lunch and never did.
This is not the ABC at its best. We are examining what we could have done to have ensured full participation for the whole day. But I hope that those people who chose not to be part of the team and who chose not to act responsibly, will think long and hard about this.
Ring Ceremony - words from Luis Argueta
June 10th, 2009Mr Argueta, as the long serving ABC Secondary School teacher, represents all teaching staff at the Ring Ceremony.
The tradition is that he provides the staff message to the graduates at the very end of the ceremony.
Several people asked for these words to be published and so I am very happy that Mr Argueta has given permission.
CEREMONIA DE ENTREGA DE ANILLOS 2009
Un conocido orador tenía a su cargo un seminario para 200 personas, se paro en frente de ellos, saco de su bolsillo un billete de $20 y lo mostró a la audiencia preguntando: ¿Quien quisiera este billete? Muchos levantaron las manos. Luego, apretando fuertemente el billete entre sus manos lo convirtió en una bolita y pregunto: ¿Quien lo quiere todavía? 200 manos en el aire. Bien dijo, ¿Que pasaría si hiciera esto? Tiro la bolita al suelo y la comenzó a estrujar en contra del piso con la suela de su zapato, lo recogió y pregunto: ¿Aun lo quieren? Las mismas 200 manos.
¿Cual es la moraleja del cuento? En cuestión de dinero todos lo queremos porque su valor no decrece. No importa como, en este caso, el billete todavía vale $20. Muchas veces en la vida somos estrujados o tirados al piso por las decisiones que tomamos y las circunstancias en las que nos hemos visto envueltos, pero la verdad que no importa que suceda o que sucederá nunca perderemos nuestro valor, si lo hemos amasado con dignidad, con esfuerzo y con mucha valentía.
Últimamente he hablado con muchos ex alumnos quienes comentan acerca de los nuevos retos por los que han tenido que pasar, momentos difíciles que han tenido que afrontar y la manera de cómo han salido adelante, la frase es la misma através de los años: Gracias a lo que aquí me enseñaron y la manera en que me entrenaron he sabido salir adelante.
No se puede detener la fuerza de los vientos, pero si se pueden construir molinos canalizando así un factor muy útil capaz de producir resultados positivos. Los años que vivimos y los que se avecinan no son muy prometedores, vemos el futuro con temor y caminamos vacilantes a una meta que no vemos muy clara. Si nos sentamos, nada remediamos, pongamos la mente en alto, preparémonos, eduquémonos y valorémonos constantemente para poder emerger como seres útiles, como seres de un valor incalculable para nuestras familias, amigos y sobre todo para la sociedad que nos rodea.
Hoy mas que nunca se vuelve imperativo acelerar la marcha pero mucho ojo, no hay que correr a través de la vida con demasiada prisa, no vaya a ser que se olviden no solo de donde han venido, sino que también hacia donde se dirigen. La vida no es una maratón sino una caminata que hay que saborear con cada paso que se da si este es de avanzada.
Dentro de poco muchos de ustedes se marcharan a lugares diferentes en busca de uno de los logros más grandes del universo, cultivar la mente para convertirse en tierra fértil de una sociedad que busca por la excelencia. En tres o cuatro años espero oír la misma frase que todas las generaciones de la ABC repiten a su regreso, pero eso será el futuro y para ese entonces todo esto será el ayer y el ayer es solo eso, historia, el mañana sigue siendo un misterio, pero el ahora es un regalo, por eso le llamamos presente el cual espero estén disfrutando.
Seven Artists exhibit in the IB Visual Arts Exhibition
April 24th, 2009The reception for the International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Exhibition was held on Wednesday with seven artists exhibiting (Waykuan, Michelle, Eileen, Emilio, Ute, Cristina and Gaby ).
This year the IB Examiner had already visited, interviewed the students and evaluated the work. Many students, teachers and parents have had a chance to view the exhibition. In my words I referred to the very high standard of work - work which came to even greater life and meaning when viewing their research notebooks and especially talking to the artists about their work. Congratulations to you all.
Mathematics Competitions
March 24th, 2009Here is a report from Mr Carlos Arriola, ABC Mathematics Teacher, who trained and accompanied the ABC Mathematics Team for the competitions held in Puebla, Mexico. They produced excellent results, given that this was the first time that we had participated in this international competition.
“The MathCounts competition is a very important event organised by MATHCOUNTS.org in order to motivate KS3 students who do well in Mathematics. This year ABC participated at the Central American competition coming in 3rd place for the Math Relay and Individual 2nd Place for the Mathcounts. This allowed us to participate in Puebla, Mexico at the Regional Competition.
We started our preparation by staying Fridays from 13:45 to 15:00 and coming to school on Saturdays from 08:00 to 12:00. The day of departure came: March 11, 2009; we were all so excited and Mr. Keslake gave us a nice motivational speech before we headed off to the aiport.
We got to Mexico Airport and took the bus to Puebla (a 2 hours drive). At Puebla bus station, the bus from the American School of Puebla was already waiting for us to take us to the hotel (a very nice colonial one in San Andres Cholula, Puebla). That day we visited Cholula, ate the tipical tacos and then came back to the hotel to do our final Math Relay practice for next day.
March 12, 2009: As soon as we got to the middle school campus, we got really nervous when we saw the 120 students who were going to compete with us. The first part was the protocol part in which the Salvadorean anthem was sang and the flag was shown for the first time, then Mr. Arriola got to meet the Governor’s wife, after that the Teachers’ Math Relay started (in which Mr. Arriola won 1st Place with the John F. Kennedy School), and then the Students’ Math Relay. This is the most important part of this day: students running and solving Maths exercises, SO MUCH FUN!!! At the end ABC came 5th Place because of time, not bad for being the first time in this competition. Later the American School of Puebla arranged a little trip so we went bowling, ice skating, to the GoCars, and to Angelopolis Mall, a great time between teachers, parents and students.
March 13, 2009: A long day was waiting for us when we arrived at the campus. The gym was arranged for the students to watch a video and to start the Sprint, Target and Team Rounds. Coaches were checking results for each of the rounds. At the end, when they finished the three rounds, Mr. Arriola saw the big surprise: Martha Osegueda (7th Grade) was Individual 5th Place, Team A was 4th Place and Team B was 4th place also. Great performance by the ABC group on this first time in Mexico!
Then the Countdown Round started; the best 10 students compete against each other to see who’s the Real First Place. Martha defended her 5th Place with honour but she lost when she was fighting for 4th Place. And the end, a great big satisfaction feeling was sorrounding the ABC group. It was time to celebrate so we went to know Puebla City and Downtown, a beautiful colonial city where you can have: culture, great “comida poblana” and a lot of fun.
In our way back to El Salvador we said: mission acomplished!! But we know that 2010 will be BETTER.
Thanks to all people that supported us and specially to the ABC authorities and parents.”
A good day
March 11th, 2009Sometimes it is important to remember why you are in education - why you do what you do. This is one of those times. This is what I did today:
before 7am: walked around school saying “good morning!” and receiving cheerful smiles and polite “good mornings!” back again, from students of all ages - happy to be coming to school. Talked to some of the temporary prefects doing duty - so pleased to see the responsible nature of these students. Talked also to the staff on duty in the admin drop off area.
7am: Primary Spanish Departments mid-year review meeting. Just amazed at the progress made in Spanish - the work being done in Prekinder and Kinder so as to cover almost the same topics as in English classes and the same themes. The planning is meticulous and the detailed assessment gathering using specialised sheets and careful observation is very impressive. The story reading and singing with the youngest children to develop language as well as the differentiation strategies being applied. The extra reading period in Prepa and indeed the development of reading was impressive. The new books including books with Salvadorian references as well as the Pipo Club Games have proven to be really good support materials. The Upper Primary Spanish Department was equally impressive. The McGraw-Hill schemes are used here but a great deal is done to identify cross curricular work, even linking to the art club work. I was impressed not just by what was being presented but by an impressive team of teachers.
8am: planning with the Music Coordinator and Director of Studies. Working out the planning for the next two years so as to develop the music programme. We hope that our first orchestra will play - perhaps by the end of the school year? The music resources are good and I, again, am impressed with the dedication of our music staff. At a recent assembly I heard some of the IGCSE music and in particular the music compositions of two students. Both were of a high standard and one by MM, played by an ensemble with a wonderful sound, was bordering on the professional.
8:40 inevitable e-mail, cheque signing, phone calls and administrative time. This goes on in gaps throughout the day.
9:40 HoSecondary reporting back on a well thought out and careful assembly with the younger end of the Secondary students.
10am: meeting parent who had taken the time to come to see me to offer support. This, together with several other parents who sought me out or sent me an e-mail today, lifted my spirits greatly.
10:15 meeting with Bereavement Team including EL, our coordinating psychologist. They are working hard to ensure all receive the support necessary.
10:40 in the PAC with 11th and 12th grade. Theory of Knowledge. Today is the day for the 12th grade ToK presentations, with 11th grade acting as evaluators and also learning a lot about what they will have to do next year. After a briefing we head off to each of the classrooms. My ToK group now down to four groups since some rearrangement necessary - sorry to lose “Beauty” and wonder how they have done. All my group have produced excellent and imaginative presentations - and they live up to expectation. Will read the transcript of the first group on “Politics and Ethics” since we were competing with the Primary Swimming Gala next door. Very well done presentation with a good examination of the current elections and the dirty part of the campaigns. “Money and Happiness” was examined by Mexican Jose and a very money orientated society person amd a talk show format. Both the first and second groups used a “ToK” interpretor to bring out the issues. Lunch followed - pupusas on the large art display area of the LRC kindly put on by the Madres Enlaces. Good to see all 11th and 12th grade together enjoying the lunch - this area does not make a bad cafeteria (we were thinking of this for the 12th grade area….).
12:45 The after-lunch presentations had the ToK issues within the presentations - so attention was necessary. “Torture” was a good topic excellently done. The video work was good (Guantanamo Bay Prison was too realistic), and the court format worked well to bring out the knowledge issues. “Same sex marriages” went back to the talk show style and again brought out the issues very well. What impressive 12th graders! We recorded them so it will be useful to look over all of them again.
1:50 walk around pick up areas, seeing happy children going home.
2pm: IGCSE Music recording BV’s piece - the overture to Bugsy, and some spirited saxophone playing by him. This will be sent to the moderator for evaluation. Played the bass clarinet - it has taken some time to get the embouchure functioning again. We played several times to get the balance right but the finished piece sounded pretty good. Next Wednesday at 6:30pm is the public performance - part of the students’ examination requirements.
2:40 back to some cheque signing and phone calls.
2:50 evaluating the ToK presentations. Difficult job.
3:00 wrote this - did not mention the many people who came at various times to “pop in” - “have you got a minute?” And the many interactions in the corridors whilst on my way somewhere, with students, teachers and parents…. a good day.
Letter to Parents - Friday 6th March 2009
March 6th, 2009(this letter went home today, in Spanish, with all Secondary School Students)
Dear Parents
You will know that we have had a sad and tragic event occur last week. One of our students from 11th grade, Humberto Alfonso Melgar Coto, died at his home on Tuesday evening. The last few days have been very painful ones for our community, and particularly so for those who were close to Humberto as student colleagues and as teachers. We have expressed our condolences to Humberto’s family and recognise the traumatic time that they are experiencing.
Our immediate concern is the well being of our students and staff and I want to share with you the way that we are supporting all those affected by this bereavement. I am including some information which may help you identify the features in the grieving process and ask you to talk to your child in a way appropriate to his or her age.
We have talked to Secondary School students about this in various ways and have a process which we are following with those most affected. One important aspect is to ensure that any person who would like to talk to one of our trained and experienced grievance counsellors is able to do so. If you believe that your child is specially affected, please contact myself, Mr Keslake, any of the Heads of Year or Mrs Ina de Saca, our Secondary School Psychologist who will arrange for this to take place. Students have been asked to be aware of how their colleagues are faring and to let our staff know of any issues.
This is part of the talk that our school psychologist had with our Secondary School students:
Death is something we hardly like to discuss. Some of us live for a short time and others live for a longer time. Why? We don’t know. On our path through this earth our job is to make our life the best we can and to try to make a difference in other people’s lives, especially the people around us. I’m sure Humberto was able to do this, to make a difference somehow, because all of us do make a difference somehow.
When someone close to us dies…
- it is normal to feel sad… It is normal to cry if you feel sad. We as humans have feelings, and we need time to mourn. Nevertheless, we should not let sadness take over our life. We can be sad for a while, but we need to move on with our life and try to make the best of it. We should not let sadness paralyse us, or make us stop living.
- it is normal to feel angry… Why do people die? It is not fair when a loved one dies. Allow yourself to be mad for a while, it is okay, it is normal. Nevertheless, we should not let anger take over our life. We can be angry, but we need to move on with our life and try to make the best of it. We should not let anger take over because we become unhappy and we make the others around us unhappy. After the normal process of feeling sad, angry or both… we need to forgive… we need to forgive God, the Universe or whoever we want to call it, for the fact that death does happen. We need to accept it, as accepting it brings forth peace.
There are things we can change, that we should strive to change…. like bullying, poverty, etc. but there are things we can not change and we should accept them.
-it is normal to feel guilty… was I nice to Humberto? Did I listen to what he had to say? Was I friendly enough with him? We can’t be perfect with everyone around us, but the fact that we don’t know if we are going to be here tomorrow, makes us realize the importance of trying to be our best with others. Don’t feel guilty… it is better to reflect and try to let this very sad event make us a better person. Difficult circumstances in our life are the ones that make us reflect and learn, therefore making us a better person, a more mature person.
It is important to talk with someone about our feelings. It’s not a good idea to keep them to ourselves. We need to communicate in order to understand, to have less pain. Talk to your family, your friends, or to any member of the staff you trust.
A death of a loved one is a wound that never totally closes or heals. Time helps, and the decisions we make every day help. The decision of not letting anger or sadness take over our lives, that is a decision we have to make every day. The decision to become a better person, to make our best effort, to learn from our mistakes, that is a decision that we have to make every day. Although the wound never totally heals, the pain becomes bearable if we make the right choices. In honor of Humberto and our loved ones that have already departed, we need to learn… and become better people.
It is expected that our community will feel many emotions. Included in these will be those of anger and sense of injustice. It is appropriate that this should also be a time of reflection and thought. We, as a school, will be looking into all related aspects of this tragic event and ensure that, if there are lessons to be learnt, then we shall do so.
We have received many messages of support at this tragic time and we thank all those from within our community and also from others.
This purpose of this letter is to seek your help in dealing with any immediate needs that our students may have and if you should have any concerns, please contact any of the members of staff previously mentioned.
Yours sincerely,
J. George Hobson