When I was a kid, I didn't really think of teachers as "real people." In elementary school, I assumed (like my classmates) that teachers lived at school, graded assignments all night, and never, ever went to the grocery store.
When I got into middle school, I realized how wrong I was. I found out that teachers went home and graded papers all night. Finally by high school I realized that teachers were real honest to goodness people that shopped for food, listened to music, and did chores.
As a principal, I realize how lucky I am to work with SMS teachers and other staff members. The adults in our building grade papers but they also shop. They sing and play. They also laugh and dream. And they experience great joy and handle great disappointment. They are real people. Interesting people.
If you've seen this week's issue of the Scoop, you likely noticed a new feature on the back page called The Grid. Each week, we will feature a group of SMS staff members and let you know a little bit about each of them. Follow The Grid and get to know our talented staff. Compare their answers to what you would put in The Grid!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Should I tell?
When something bad happens, there can be that moment. That pause.
Should I tell?
This feeling of uncertainty is not unusual. This is something that is felt by children and by adults. Almost everybody worries about this.
Should I tell?
There are two main reasons why some people are reluctant to report bullying or bad behavior.
First, people worry that bad things will happen if they report bullying or other bad behavior. They worry that somebody will find out that they reported, resulting in negative things happening to them. If I report this, things will be worse. In reality, if someone retaliates (gets back at you) for reporting, that should be reported, too. Retaliation is unacceptable and is actionable (can result in discipline). If you report something and somebody (or their friends) retaliates, be sure you report that, too. I understand this worry about reporting. My advice is to be brave. Report.
The second reason that some people are reluctant to report is "nobody will do anything." I hear this sometimes and it makes me sad. Over break I watched the very difficult movie "Bully." Many of the kids featured would say "why report because nobody will do anything about it." It was gut wrenching to hear this. And I know some of you feel this way, too.
Here is the deal with "nobody will do anything."
When adults problem solve, they choose strategies. Typically, there are several potential strategies to resolve every problem. Sometimes, however, the first strategy doesn't work. Does this sound familiar? Does this sound like Student Success Skills class from 6th grade? Well, it should. If your strategy isn't working, try a new strategy.
If an adult hears about a problem, 99.99% of the time, they will try a strategy. That strategy may be to talk to the person. Most of the time a talk is designed to teach. Our first instinct is always to teach. Oftentimes with that talk we also arrange extra surveillance in the problem area or we assign discipline. The tricky part with these strategies is that the reporting student doesn't know about them. When you report and walk away, you may never see what happens. And when you don't see it, you assume "nobody did anything."
Let's recap. Bad thing. Report. Talk/teach. Done, right?
Well, sometimes not. Sometimes the strategy doesn't work. The bad thing happens again.
If you report and then the bad thing is repeated, you may think "well, they didn't do anything and that is why it is happening again." Most of the time, that logic is wrong. If the bad thing happens again, it is likely that the strategy failed.
When I work on things in the office, I send kids back out into the halls thinking "Wow, I'm good. I fixed it!" When it happens again a student is thinking "Wow. Why didn't Miss Nass do something to help me?"
If you are ever in the situation where you report something to an adult and then the same thing happens again, REPORT AGAIN. This will let the adult know to try a new strategy. If one strategy doesn't work, we will try another.
Let's recap. Bad thing. Report. Talk/teach. Bad thing. Next strategy. Done? Hopefully!
Sometimes kids need several strategies. Fact. Sometimes adults need to be told several times. Fact.
So the next time something bad happens and you pause and think "Should I tell?" I hope you choose YES! I hope you are brave and let the words fall out. Talk to adults. We've got strategies. Lots of them!
Should I tell?
This feeling of uncertainty is not unusual. This is something that is felt by children and by adults. Almost everybody worries about this.
Should I tell?
There are two main reasons why some people are reluctant to report bullying or bad behavior.
First, people worry that bad things will happen if they report bullying or other bad behavior. They worry that somebody will find out that they reported, resulting in negative things happening to them. If I report this, things will be worse. In reality, if someone retaliates (gets back at you) for reporting, that should be reported, too. Retaliation is unacceptable and is actionable (can result in discipline). If you report something and somebody (or their friends) retaliates, be sure you report that, too. I understand this worry about reporting. My advice is to be brave. Report.
The second reason that some people are reluctant to report is "nobody will do anything." I hear this sometimes and it makes me sad. Over break I watched the very difficult movie "Bully." Many of the kids featured would say "why report because nobody will do anything about it." It was gut wrenching to hear this. And I know some of you feel this way, too.
Here is the deal with "nobody will do anything."
When adults problem solve, they choose strategies. Typically, there are several potential strategies to resolve every problem. Sometimes, however, the first strategy doesn't work. Does this sound familiar? Does this sound like Student Success Skills class from 6th grade? Well, it should. If your strategy isn't working, try a new strategy.
If an adult hears about a problem, 99.99% of the time, they will try a strategy. That strategy may be to talk to the person. Most of the time a talk is designed to teach. Our first instinct is always to teach. Oftentimes with that talk we also arrange extra surveillance in the problem area or we assign discipline. The tricky part with these strategies is that the reporting student doesn't know about them. When you report and walk away, you may never see what happens. And when you don't see it, you assume "nobody did anything."
Let's recap. Bad thing. Report. Talk/teach. Done, right?
Well, sometimes not. Sometimes the strategy doesn't work. The bad thing happens again.
If you report and then the bad thing is repeated, you may think "well, they didn't do anything and that is why it is happening again." Most of the time, that logic is wrong. If the bad thing happens again, it is likely that the strategy failed.
When I work on things in the office, I send kids back out into the halls thinking "Wow, I'm good. I fixed it!" When it happens again a student is thinking "Wow. Why didn't Miss Nass do something to help me?"
If you are ever in the situation where you report something to an adult and then the same thing happens again, REPORT AGAIN. This will let the adult know to try a new strategy. If one strategy doesn't work, we will try another.
Let's recap. Bad thing. Report. Talk/teach. Bad thing. Next strategy. Done? Hopefully!
Sometimes kids need several strategies. Fact. Sometimes adults need to be told several times. Fact.
So the next time something bad happens and you pause and think "Should I tell?" I hope you choose YES! I hope you are brave and let the words fall out. Talk to adults. We've got strategies. Lots of them!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
What is your mindset?
Happy New Year!
This phrase brings many things to mind. The ball drop in Times Square, gatherings with family and friends, and the often dreaded New Years' Resolutions! Right now many people are trying to develop new habits: eat better, exercise more, read more, donate more, reduce unhealthy habits, play less Candy Crush, and hopefully LEARN MORE! How successful a person is with new habits is impacted by several things... one of which is the mindset of the person.
Mindset is a concept that has been developed by several researchers including Carol Dweck from Stanford University. According to Dweck, the way you view your own abilities has a tremendous impact on your success. She says there are two mindsets - fixed mindset and growth mindset.
Fixed mindset is the belief that you are what you are. There is no real change possible. Your brains and your abilities were established at birth by genetics and/or fate. You are either smart or somewhat smart or not smart. You can either dribble the ball well or you can't dribble the ball well. You can either draw like Picasso or you can't draw like Picasso.
Growth mindset is the belief that you can develop yourself. This mindset says that you can improve at things with work and that your potential is unlimited. People with growth mindsets think they can get better at things with practice. I can't draw like Picasso yet, but I can get better every time I work at it.
Individuals with fixed mindsets can be very limited by their belief system. Kids that think they are fixed "smart" are often afraid to try new things (I might fail. I might look dumb. I might disappoint somebody. I won't turn it in because it isn't perfect.) Kids that think they are fixed "not smart" are also less likely to try new things. (It doesn't matter. I won't be able to get it. I'm an idiot. Why bother?)
Individuals with growth mindsets are not limited. When faced with new challenges, they don't opt out. They take on risks. They understand the power of practice and perseverance. (I don't know it yet, but I will. I failed this time but I'll get it next time. It's ok to take a chance and answer the teacher's question because if I'm wrong, at least I'll find out the right answer.)
What is your mindset?
When your work is criticized, how do you respond?
When something gets difficult, what do you do?
When others do better than you are you inspired or do you feel threatened?
Are you frozen in a fixed mindset?
Are you open to growth?
My resolution for this year is to encourage you all to be open to GROWTH.
You can find out more about the power of mindset at the link and graphic below.
Happy New Year!
Miss Nass
Mindset
http://mindsetonline.com/whatisit/about/index.html
Mindset graphic from Dweck's work:
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