You Can Now Actually Comment!

One of the first things that I have learned in my blogging journey is that one cannot expect to generate a discussion unless one actually allows comments to be made to one's blogsite! Grrrrrr.

I was at a blogging and wiki training course today, and mentioned that I was disappointed about the lack of comments to my blog topics. I thought that they would generate interest from those who checked them out, and was surprised that not one person had bothered to comment. Well, my instructor asked me if I had actually enabled anyone to do so. When I looked at him blankly, he said that I needed to set the blog to do so. I have now done so, and anyone (not just those with a Google account) can comment on my postings.

I hope that you do so, because I really would love to have a dialogue with (and between) parents about some of the important issues and advances taking place at Walker. Commenting is easy and fun - just click on the comment link that accompanies each post, and start typing! I hope to read YOUR comments soon.

Online Grade Access - Pros and Cons?

As you know, Walker's Middle and Upper Schools have made student grades available for students and parents to view online.

In my completely unscientific polling, student reactions have been (understandably!) mixed. I fully expected the upset side:

• Worries about increasing parent pressure on them to be perfect on every assignment. ("When they can see every little homework grade, there is no wiggle room. My parents will be on me all the time now," said one 8th grader)
• Of parents knowing test grades before the students even do, and jumping on them when they get in the car!
• Of more "micromanagement" when the students were trying to expand their freedoms and responsibilities.
• Of an even more formidable parent-teacher alliance to force higher student performance!

However, many weren't worried about it, and even welcomed it:

• "I already do my best on all my assignments, so I'm not worried about whether or not my parents see them."
• "It will force me to work harder on my assignments."
• "It will help me remember missed assignments if I've been sick or something."
• "I like that I'll be able to keep up with my grades all the time. It'll let me see how a good or bad grade affects my average, and if I've got to work or study really hard to get my grade up."

I believe that this decision is one of the more important policy developments at Walker in recent years, and I am very interested to see how it turns out. As a parent myself, I know that I would be tempted to check my child's grades every day, but I don't know if that is a healthy dynamic. Here are a few questions I would love to know:

1. What are your thoughts about online grade access? What are its pros and cons?
2. What are your student's thoughts on this feature?
3. Have you talked about this feature with your student and and how you plan to use it?

This could generate a lively conversation!

Review of "Mindset"

I am currently reading a fascinating book called Mindset. It was written by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D, a leading researcher in the fields of social and developmental psychology. The book’s main thesis is that a person’s “mindset” (the way he or she views him or herself) plays a deep, fundamental role in how that person approaches life and its inherent challenges. People with “fixed” mindsets view their abilities as innate and immutable, and their successes (or failures) as derivatives thereof. They tend to focus on areas of strength, and avoid areas in which they are not already strong. This makes sense, as successes reassure them that they are good and capable, while falling short makes them feel as failures. On the other hand, people with “growth” mindsets believe that their skills and abilities can be improved through their own efforts. These people actively seek out challenges, thrive upon them, and expand their abilities. To them, failures are not permanent – they are chances to grow. It should come as no surprise that people with growth mindsets are far more successful in almost every aspect of life. The wonderful thing is that fixed mindset people, in the right environment and with the right encouragement, can change their mindset and reap the benefits.

Dr. Dweck’s findings confirm what we as educators have believed for many years: That effort is the key to success. Although we are all born with unique talents and abilities, our progress as human beings is far more dependent on hard work, perseverance, and inner resiliency in the face of challenges. In fact, as parents, focusing on and praising our children over their achievements can actually be damaging to them – for what happens when our children can’t achieve to the level of our hopes or expectations? They become fragile and anxious as the work gets harder, and come to see each assignment as a referendum on their worth. Fixed mindset children avoid seeking out challenges and confronting their weaknesses, with the predictable result that their growth and development are stunted. It is far healthier and more productive to praise over the effort that your child puts into his or her work, because that is an area over which they have control. The positive long-term personality traits of optimism, determination, self-efficacy, and earned self-esteem are the results.

I welcome your thoughts and reactions to this book and its review!