This month I will be delivering my last regular guidance lessons for the school year. I will visit classrooms and work with students, but I will only conduct class lessons on a teacher-requested basis. Next semester, my primary focus will be on student assessments, individual planning, and responsive services.
Our guidance topics for December are Growth Mindset and Self-Esteem. I believe these two topics go hand in hand. As a mom, it is my goal to raise confident, resilient children who grow into confident, successful adults. I want them to believe that they are capable of accomplishing anything they want. Things may not always go the way they plan or would like and some things are difficult, but they should always try and persevere. As a school counselor, I want the same thing for my students.
I am teaching growth mindset and open mindset interchangeably. A growth mindset is where people believe intelligence can be developed. People focus on improving themselves instead of worrying about how smart they are. They see effort as path to success. They understand that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. They overcome challenges. As a result, they reach higher levels of achievement. I am challenging kids to find alternative ways of thinking to thoughts such as, “I can’t do this,” “This is too hard,” and “I give up.” When they have a growth mindset, their thinking sounds like, “This is difficult but I will do my best,” “I can do this,” and “I won’t give up.” Kids with good self-esteem feel good about themselves, feel proud of what they can do, and believe in themselves, even when they don't succeed at first. They see their own good qualities, such as being kind or capable; feel liked, loved, and respected; and accept themselves, even when they make mistakes.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments. Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season!
Resources:
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/self_esteem.html
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Growth-Mindset-2089117
http://mindsetonline.com/whatisit/about/
https://www.mindsetworks.com/webnav/whatismindset.aspx