Growth+Gallery+-+Student+Work

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 * Journal Writing Prompt: Think of a time you felt like a failure and describe the situation. Record your internal dialogue and describe the mindset(s) your were using. **


 * //Please note that these student samples are anonymous and not edited for publication as they were Journal Entries.//**

//**7th Grader Response:**// Over the summer of 2013 I tried out for two hockey teams. I didn't make the first team and I got bummed out. I thought its okay just try your best at the next tryout. I didn't want to mess up. I was thinking don’t mess up it is going to be embarrassing. On the way home I talked to my mom and she said just try to learn something, so I did. I was feeling bummed because it thought I was going to make the team. I think it happened because I skated bad but tried my best. Another reason I didn't make the team was because I didn't play travel before and the coach only wanted kids who had played travel before. At first I thought I just wasn't good enough because I tried my hardest and didn’t make the team. I figured I might as well go skate my best at the second teams tryout. At my second tryout I thought “It’s okay if you don’t make it. See if you even like the team.” I had fun and the drills were very easy. I skated really well and tried my best. The team was good and I could keep up with them. I scored during the scrimmage and got to see some old friends. I was thinking I wasn't going to make the team. I didn’t want to mess up in front of all the coaches. Then I figured if I don’t make the team I will still have a fun year in house hockey and see my friends and have some of my friends on my team. I ended up not making the team but I found out I got a friend on my hockey team. My team ended up being really good. I am now ready to learn and get even better at hockey. The mindset I had in the beginning was a fixed mindset because I didn't want to mess up in front of the coaches and thought it was going to be embarrassing. Then after I talked to my mom and I got a growth mindset. People believe that talent and intelligence can be improved by dedication and hard work. A growth mindset creates motivation and productivity. I went to the next tryout learning instead of thinking about failing. I learned some new things and had fun. Now I try to learn instead of worrying about failing.

//**8th Grader Response:**// When I was in sixth grade, school was super important to me. I made it into pre-algebra that year. I was really happy and it was the best thing that’s ever happened to me at that time. Two weeks before school started, my mom got a phone call saying that they took a pre-algebra out of a team and only had one team with it. They split people into three groups based on test scores. I didn’t make it. If someone was to not do it, I would be the next one in. But no one dropped it. I was so mad and very disappointed in myself. I ran upstairs and started crying. “What did I do wrong?” “How bad was my test score?” “Do I suck that much?” “Why am I so bad at everything?” “Can I ever do anything right?” “What’s wrong with me?” “Am I that stupid?” “How can I make it in?” “Why did they take that other team out?” “They have too many people to take it out.” “Nothing is more important.” “I need this.” “It means the world to me.” “I suck don’t I?” “Why does this have to happen to me?”

“Ah I’m so stupid!” Millions of thoughts ran through my head and I was super disappointed. I felt beat down and like the stupidest person on earth. This all happened because of that one pre-algebra test that ruined my sixth grade year. But honestly, I’m happy I wasn't in it. I don’t need all the stress algebra caused in seventh grade and it really doesn't matter. I’m not stupid and I know it. The only thing I can do now is try harder and study more to get better grades, but it no longer matters to me what math class I’m in. I’m happy where I’m at and I wouldn't change anything about my middle school years.

This is a fixed mindset because I said I can’t do it and that I’m stupid. Instead of thinking of the positives I thought of how stupid I was and I wanted to seem smart. Not being in that class made me feel dumb and made me think others would feel the same about me. I know now that it doesn't matter and I can only improve my learning skills. No one cares about how smart I am, so I don’t need to look smart.