Monthly Archives: November 2017

You Thinking of Uni?

Posted by hopejohnson on 13 November, 2017 None comments
October was a month of college prep for our upper MYP and DP students here at SEK: We visited Education
City, held a Canadian university fair, and were welcomed by Qatar University for a tailor-made tour. Lots of
students received inspiration, some gained surety, and others now have more questions than when we
began! All in all, we can be sure that our students have excellent options for undergraduate study, whether
here in Qatar or further afield. Deciding where to choose to go remains the challenge.
The dean at the University of Pennsylvania offers the following framework for guidance in choosing the right school on his blog:

 

  1. Culture:
    • What is the history and mission of the institution. How is the mission relevant today?
  2. Curriculum:
    • More than a listing of majors and programs, what is the design and aim of the courses you will take over 4 years?
  3. Community:
    • Who are the people, the physical spaces of campus and the relationship of the campus to the local environment?
  4. Conclusions:
    • What should I envision for myself at the end of my college experience
    • What are some of the outcomes I may expect?

 

These four Cs are good place to start when students are deciding what school they want to be a part of in the next chunk of their lives. As a prudent parent, I would go ahead and add a fifth C: Cost. It is a very necessary discussion to have!

All of a our students will find welcoming places around the world. As directed above, I encourage them to look beyond a course title, or school name when making that determination, and to ask: What will my day-to-day be like there? What will my classes actually be about? How will this program serve me in my future endeavors?

I am here to help students pore over course details and catalogs, to get in touch with program supervisors,
and find illustrative answers to questions that may help guide their choices. Please have these conversations
at home, and check in with me if you too have questions! It is my pleasure and privilege to be a part of this
exciting time in our students’ lives.

The Power of Yet…

Posted by hopejohnson on 12 November, 2017 None comments

Gotta love Sesame Street!

 

“Do you want to grow up to be an author, an astronaut, a scientist, or a doctor? That’s great! But maybe you don’t know how many bones are in an arm or even how to spell…yet. Believe in yourself, work hard, stay focused, and one day you’ll get to where you want to be. That’s the power of yet.”

The Growth Mindset

Posted by hopejohnson on 12 November, 2017 None comments

What is the growth mindset?

Have you ever really struggled with a new concept? How did you feel? Were you able you overcome? How?

Research shows that mindset greatly affects how well one succeeds in new or challenging situations. To simplify it, I’ll quote Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.”

What does this mean to our students? The most successful students know that they can grow their brain, retrain themselves to improve, and get better by learning from their mistakes.

When you fail, do you criticize yourself, or your approach? Do you try again?

Being willing to try again after a failure is key. Students, especially those who sit quietly puzzled for fear of looking dumb, are incapable of reaching their potential if they follow this path. Asking questions, making attempts, and yes, failing, are what help us learn. This messaging needs to make it to our students’ ears. When we fail, we must reflect and evaluate, and then try again.

When you succeed, is it just because you are super smart, or because you have mastered your strategy through trial and error?

Most masters at anything will tell you, they are not intrinsically their most capable, but they have become so with thoughtful, continued effort.  We must praise the process, not the person to ensure students continually take responsibility for their results, and reinvest in themselves.

Below is a great site for parents to consult. We can help our students succeed by giving them the gift of a growth mindset. It is not an instantaneous shift, but a practice best adopted familially  and communally.

https://www.mindsetkit.org/growth-mindset-parents