I often talk to teachers about the importance of building a learning culture in their classrooms. It is so important that students feel safe and valued in their learning ideas.
Recently, I came upon this website, which gives tips and has videos to guide teachers and families in promoting a growth mindset in students. I especially liked the examples within the section on Celebrating Mistakes.
It reminded me of a teacher I recently listened to excitedly explain the building of culture in her classroom. She talked about how she and her students cheer for each other's mistakes, how students grow in their ability to talk about math through the constant exposure to thinking problems, and how her students love math time in the classroom. There was no doubt that this excited teacher was talking from the positive experiences happening in her room, and that her students, too, had wonderful experiences as growing mathematicians!
Everyone in the room could feel the joy that this teacher exuded, and I'm sure, like me, they were wishing to have students (or be a student) who were a part of this classroom. As students grow and content becomes more and more, I think teachers find it more difficult to create this type of atmosphere, but by visiting the website, teachers might find just the motivation to build a stronger classroom learning culture. Even in October it is not too late!
