Westlawn Public School Newsletter Term 2 Week 6 4 th June 2019 Strive to Achieve North Street, Grafton. 2460 6642 7466 [email protected]Last week I talked about mindsets and in particular, the growth mindset. I included some tips on how to help your children to develop a growth mindset including praising the process not just the result, embracing failures as a way to improve results and explaining that the brain is like a muscle – the more you use it the more it grows. I hope you’re finding some opportunities to give these ideas a go with your children. The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset. For those of you (like me) who are visual learners, here’s the link to a short video that explains the difference between the two. As parents and carers, you are your child’s ‘first teacher’. Children will model on you. Which mindset do you fit into? Are you are a bit of both? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CHPnZfFmU I saw an excellent example of how working at something with consistent effort and great teacher support, results in success at last week’s assembly. Mr Giggins’ Kindergarten class were performing their Eisteddfod verse speaking items – two quite lengthy poems. The level of precision, focus and above all enjoyment evident in each and every child was a joy to behold. As a past Kindergarten teacher myself, I know just how much effort would have gone into such an impressive presentation. The class worked together not only as a well-oiled machine but also one with loads of individual personality shining through. Now that really does float my boat! I believe the young are born with a growth mindset. You can see that in Kindergarten children, even though they wouldn’t be able to tell you what a growth mindset was! If you believe you can achieve anything, then you have a much better chance of doing just that. When you ask a five year old what they want to be, they will answer everything from an astronaut to a fireman. Ask the same child as a fifteen year old and the answer has often changed to “I don’t know”. I wonder what happens in the years between early child hood and adolescence that can move a child from a growth to a fixed mindset. At Westlawn PS we help children to understand that ability can be developed through effort and the application of good strategy (that’s really where the teachers have great impact). So it’s not “I can’t do that” it’s “I can’t do that, yet”. Good luck with the growth mindset. I’m continually working on mine! Kind Regards, Sandra TRAVELLING SAFELY TO AND FROM SCHOOL Whether your child travels to and from school by car, bus, bike or foot there are rules to keep everyone safe. It has been brought to the school’s attention that there have been instances of children riding pushbikes in the Cranworth and Principal’s Message
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Newsletter - westlawn-p.schools.nsw.gov.au · particular, the growth mindset. I included some tips on how to help your children to develop a growth mindset including praising the
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accident with a motor vehicle, the results could be
fatal. Teachers have spoken with all students at
assemblies and in classrooms multiple times this
year about safely travelling to and from school but
there are a few children who have not heeded the
warnings.
STRANGER DANGER
Thank you for discussing the importance of
keeping safe after school with your children
particularly whilst walking to and from friends’
houses. There has recently been an incident in the
area where a student was approached by a
stranger whilst walking home from a friend’s
house. The incident was reported to the police and
the child was not harmed. The key to protecting
your children is good supervision and explaining
the risks involved when unsafe choices are made.
PARENTING INFORMATION FROM MICHAEL
GROSE
As I sat in the back of the classroom, I saw a fourteen-year-old student taunt his teacher in a way that only young adolescent boys can do. The teacher asked the student to get back to work and stop disturbing others, reminding him that his behaviour was out of order. The student grudgingly resumed his task. But just before he put his head down, he threw out a comment about it being a stupid piece of work that he had to do.
This young fella’ threw down an ‘imaginary rope’ (the last word, a taunt, a jibe, a joke) for the teacher to pick up. “Don’t pick it up! Just let it go!” I thought as I sat in the back of the room. He was getting back to work. This was the boy’s way of saving face in front of his mates. The teacher picked up the imaginary rope and began a tirade of discipline.
I detected the slightest grin on the student’s face that said “Gotchya!” The teacher’s remarks were like water off a duck’s back. He revelled in them and I watched as his status
amongst his male peer group just went up a number of notches.
The hard part of dealing with kids, whether you are a teacher or a parent, is to ignore some of their ‘last wordedness’ and the verbal comments they throw our way. I am not suggesting that we ignore all taunts or rude remarks but there are many occasions when we should just leave the ‘imaginary rope’ where it lies. Usually when we ‘pick up the rope’ we turn into a child! ‘Throwing the rope’ is so effective as behind most conflict between kids and adults are the deeper issues of:
Power (“I want to make you do this”), Position (“I’m the adult so you should
listen to me”) and Prestige (“I want others to think I’m doing
a good parenting job”).
Arguments, last-wordedness or comeback lines, which are often about kids saving face, threaten our position or prestige as parents or teachers. “You can’t say that to me, I am the adult,” is the type of thinking that brings us undone every time. They are also a way of kids saying that I will acquiesce to you but on my terms, which is about power.
Four alternatives to picking up the rope:
1. Stop, smile, ignore and walk away.
2. If the issue was important, choose the right time and place to talk to your child about their behaviour.
3. If it’s not important, let it pass. Some kids just value the fight so don’t fight.
4. Use humour to diffuse the situation. Self-deprecating humour works well; sarcasm doesn’t work.
Next time a child ‘throws the rope’ by having the last word or using a quick throw-away line, realise what is happening. Look at the imaginary rope, smile and refuse to pick it up.
That is the adult thing to do. Hard work, but essential if we are going to be successful at bringing out the best in kids’ behaviour.
For more ideas to manage last-wordedness and make other improvements to children’s behaviour check out my book One Step Ahead, my behaviour management tome.
NSW PSSA Boys Hockey Championships
We wish Kade, Reece and Hayden the very best of
luck as they play for the North Coast Hockey team at
the NSW PSSA Boys Hockey Championships in
Lismore this week. We will report on their
experiences next week.
North Coast Netball Trial Result
Congratulations to Eliza on
her selection in the North
Coast Netball Team. Eliza
played outstanding netball
last Wednesday for the
MN C side. The MNC coach
described her as a gutsy
player who gives 100% all
the time. Eliza will travel to
Orange to play in the NSW PSSA Netball
Championships next term.
MNC Cross Country Results
Results from the MNC Cross Country Carnival at
Nana Glen on Friday 24 May. Competitors had to
finish in the top 6 to progress to the North Coast
carnival to be held at Nana Glen on Friday 21 June.
Ruby - 2nd, Riley – 25th, Taj – 19th, Thomas – 26th,