Changing the Way High School Students View Success
My students need 35 copies of the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success to understand how effort, dedication, and commitment are essential in college and in life.
"Did I win? Did I lose? Those are the wrong questions. The correct question is: Did I make my best effort?" If so, he says, "You may be outscored but you will never lose." - Carol S. Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
Our school believes that all students can be successful which allows us to offer an exciting class like Advanced Placement Psychology to all students!
I am lucky enough to teach to a wide range of students low to high income, first-time AP students to seasoned pros on their fifth or sixth course. One thing I have noticed that most have in common is that students seem to take an AP course for a couple of reasons: to boost their GPA; and to earn college credit. When they arrive, they are excited and ready, smiles all around! We spend a couple weeks on a unit, then comes the test! Then I pass back the tests and their smiles fall. Sure, being upset is understandable, but it is WHY they are upset that is so troubling. They did not get an A.
My Project
I tell them, "You have just started studying an entirely new field of science. These are whole new ways of thinking and explaining your ideas. Your ideal excellence is not given, especially on the first try, it is earned through time and practice." But the effect of the attempted solace is negotiable. Troubled and confused, I watch as their spirits fall. I would understand the anguish if they did not give their best effort. But I learned that my students have been told time and time again that if they are smart, they will make an A. But the A doesn't come from smarts; it comes from continuous effort, practice, dedication, and commitment. My students will read the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success to learn that being successful isn't getting an A. Success is not giving up; success is seeking out and learning new things. They will learn that putting themselves out there is a good thing and if they make mistakes that they are actually learning.
"So what should we say when children complete a task-say, math problems quickly and perfectly?
Should we deny them the praise they have earned? Yes. When this happens, I say, "Whoops. I guess that was too easy. I apologize for wasting your time. Let's do something you can really learn from!" Truly successful people work hard and learn from mistakes. With your help, my students will learn to embrace challenges and work hard to overcome them.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Bellanca and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.