The grade 7 orientation includes a focus on executive functioning skills. Here is a sampling of reflections from some of the students:
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During today’s session on the brain, we learned about two different mindsets. The fixed mindset is when you avoid challenges, give up easily when you see an obstacle, see efforts as useless, ignore most negative feedback and feel threatened by the success of others. These people believe that they cannot get any smarter so they don’t see the point in trying. All they want to do is look smart. Where as the growth mindset is the complete opposite. They embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, see effort as the path to mastery, learn from criticism and find lessons and inspiration in the success of others. I have a couple of questions concerning the subject. Can the people with a fixed mindset change into a person with a growth mindset? Do they even realize that they are wrong? And how can they change? Here is another quote I found:
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
Oil those brains
Before they rust.
–Alyssa Howard ’17
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I think that the thing that separates successful students and unsuccessful students is work ethic and study habit. You can always blame your failures on other people but at the end of the day, the only one whose fault it truly is, is you. For example, if you study for a test and truly understand the material you will most likely do well. However, if you don’t study, you’re unprepared and you don’t understand the material, chances are you won’t do so well. Another thing that separates students is attentiveness in class. Your teacher could give a perfect explanation of something but if you don’t concentrate in class you won’t understand it. Lastly, all successful students have a desire to learn new things. You could always settle for being an average student but successful students will walk into school knowing that they’re not perfect and therefore want to learn new things in an attempt to achieve perfection. They’ll also try to learn new things at home, even when they’re not forced to. — Andrew Black ’17
“A child educated only at school is an uneducated child”- G. Santayana
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Today I’ve learned many surprising things, but the lesson that gave me the biggest shock of all was the Group work session, which focused on what type of learner you are. Before this session I thought there were only four types of learners, but today I discovered that there are so many different types of learners. For example there are bodily-kinesthetic learners, Naturalistic learners, musical learner, interposal learners, interposal learners, logical-mathematician learners, and so many more. In this class I took a test, and that is how I found out that I was a naturalistic learner 100%. Nature, people and the life cycle inspire naturalistic learners. They also, sympathize with animals and can identify many plants. Naturalistic learners can also identify patterns very well and they like taking scientific notes on things around them like nature. –Erika Kaperonis ’17
“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it’s beauty.” –Albert Einstein
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I now have a whole new approach on how to study. The reason for this is because today I learned what type of a learner I am. I am a logical-mathematic and an interpersonal learner. A logical learner means that I am capable of resolving problems easily and I usually think logically, I confront problems head first without hesitation. Apparently the best way for me to stay organized and learn is by making outlines of my work before I even start. I should also be thinking of what I am about to learn as a puzzle or a formula to help me understand better. I think this fits me well because I often find myself thinking logically. I will always prefer to have a situational word problem then a straight up math question. It says I would excel in math but I am not good in the basics of math, however I am good in most logical math problems. Now for the interpersonal half of me whom I find is definitely more dominant. According to the site we used in class an interpersonal learner is someone who thrives on social interaction. Friends often ask them for advice because they are understanding and in tune with the people around them and their motives, emotions, perspectives, and moods. You have an ability to manage relationships, which helps you understand situations and take a leadership role when necessary. They enjoy teaching and sharing their thoughts. Apparently I understand more when I talk out my situation, I always learn better when I get to discuss it with someone this is why I really enjoy doing group work. I think knowing how I learn is a very useful thing, I now know that when I am studying I should try to study with a buddy and make an outline before I start. –Philippe Miller ’17
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.” Plutarch
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The most surprising thing that I learned today was that the way you brain learns can affect your group work in a positive or negative way. All our brains have a different way of learning whether it is visual or intrapersonal we will all learn, just in a different method. Some students grasp concepts quickly and clearly by a visual aid, others by hearing someone explain it to them. So what surprised me the most was that since we all have different methods of learning they could effectively affect our group working skills. We found out that people who are paired up with their peers who have a different learning method often work better. This happens because they will all have a different opinion and a different idea, so all the ideas will come together and form one big cohesive idea. Therefor assembling their project. All though I explained that people who work together that happen to have different learning methods often succeed in group work, does that mean that people who have similar learning methods wont? –Vivianne Tellier ’17
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Today, we learned about the two “supposed” mindsets: the “fixed” mindset and the “growth” mindset. While I found the subject interesting, I was left wondering: How does one end up with either a “fixed” or a “growth” mindset? Is it genetic? Determined at birth? By CHOICE? By CHANCE? I would like to know.
When I googled “mindsets,” I was presented with a list of related pages. The first one was www.mindsetonline.com, which was the homepage of a book called Mindset. Mindset was written by Carol S. Dweck in 2006, with a sequel released this year. I remembered that we had heard about Dweck earlier this morning, in our “Mindsets” course, when we were discussing the brain. After a little more research, I came across this page, which stated that there are many theories related to the subject, but none of them have been proven as a/ the single cause [1].
Alas, I still have no answer, but that won’t stop me! I will find the answer! I have to! It’s part of my “growth” mindset!!!
“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.” ~Bernard Baruch
What mindset are you? — Adam Vandenbussche ’17
Sources
[1] http:/ / mindsetonline.com/ whatisit/ whypeoplediffer/ index.html