Mrs. Stone: Grade 3 - 5

Dear Parents,

It has been my pleasure these last several weeks to get to know your children both inside the classroom and outside.  During our last two lesson cycles we've been working on the following:

In G3 - we've focused on Social Thinking and specifically how to be a  Social Detective. Students learned that they have tools - eyes, ears, and their brain to help them figure out what is expected and unexpected in different environments (e.g. it's expected that students are running and yelling on the playground but that would be unexpected in the classroom). When people have unexpected behavior (yes, I did a handstand in the class) we have thoughts and feelings about that person. Sometimes these negative thoughts influence how we interact with that person and how that person feels about him/herself.  Using our tools is important!

Our second lesson focused on the skills of using our social thinking tools to be a better friend. We practiced listening (without being able to see a partner) as well as watching (without being able to hear a partner) to emphasize that we have to tune into the clues they give us with their facial expressions, body language, and words to be a good friend. 

The idea of using self-talk as a skill for learning was also introduced during our last lesson. Sometimes distractions get in the way of us using our tools for focused attention. Students practiced using self-talk to remember things and to try to stay on task. We also started to talk about how to use our words to remind others to do what is expected and ask for what we need.

In G4/5 our last three lessons have all been focused on what it means to have a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset. These discussions have included brain research that shows what happens in our brains when we struggle and try to learn new things. Studies have shown that students who adopt a growth mindset do better in school.

This video was shared in class and is a great example of, "You can do anything!" Students were also asked to "test" their mindset by recreating the shape below.  Stumped? Click here for directions.

Right now we're working on the how of having a growth mindset. It's one thing to know what it is but yet another to develop it and have strategies to keep it, especially when things are difficult. Students learned about how to give detailed, helpful and kind feedback to a partner after they had to quickly draw a house or person and share it. For some of our students, this was quite challenging: knowing their drawing was incomplete or "not their best work" while still being open to feedback. We were all reminded that getting feedback is an opportunity to become our best self, improve on something and be reflective - all important parts of developing a growth mindset.

Our next lessons will focus on our self-talk and self-advocacy as important tools in the quest for developing and keeping a growth mindset.

Please click here to learn ways to support your child's growth mindset at home.