I’ve been inspired by your work on growth mindsets, and the great questions that you’ve been posing. In one of your recent blog posts, you comment on the importance of modeling the goals that you want your students to pursue – this has been a key learning for me over the course of the year as…Read more

Since my last blog post and the completion of Phase 2 of my Action Plan (to create “A Toolkit for Flourishing“), I’ve been working on Phase 3: Implementation.

Initially, I was not exactly […]

Thank you so much for the feedback – great suggestions! I’m in Ottawa this week with the Grade 8s, but I’ll work on the website when I’m back.

Thanks again for your support!

Is the link not live? The website is up and running and you should be able to access it now! I’ve tested out the hyperlink, and it’s working for me. What happens when you click on it? Try http://www.toolkitforflourishing.weebly.com! Let me know what happens!

Thanks again : )

I really enjoyed taking part in your project tuning protocol, and I love reading about how your action plan is unfolding. Your plan has inspired me – I’m actually going to try your project out in my Gr. 8 English class…Read more

The project you are working on with your class sounds fantastic! It is such an effective way to use math to analyze and discuss real-world, social justice issues. I have no doubt that this unit will inspire change. Awesome work!

I won’t say too much about it here, but rather, I hope that you’ll take a few moments to check it out!

After […]

I’m so glad you shared what Lorraine Brown is doing in her class. During Term 3, my Gr. 8 English class focuses a lot on building discussion skills via the Harkness method. In the past, I’ve sometimes found it challenging to get students think more deeply and critically…Read more

There are far more parallels between building a house and students’ experiences at school than I ever imagined!

There are so many excellent reminders in this post: (1) The importance of a growth mindset (in school AND in life); (2) The power of skills-based learning vs. content-based learning (you may not…Read more

Sometimes, the harder we try to find balance (through mindfulness, exercise, or whatever), the more stress it can add to our lives, and the less balanced we feel (@lmcbeth and I were just “virtually” chatting about this). But your revised action plan makes the pursuit of mindfulness totally doable.

How incredible…Read more

Yes, I loved learning about “flow”! It certainly is magic when it happens. Every student (and teacher …and person, for that matter), needs to find and recognize those passions that allow them to flow.

I haven’t read Gabrielle Oettingen’s work, but I will be sure to check it out. As I said to Garth above, there’s still…Read more

Yes – I really do believe that positive education needs to be the foundation. If students are flourishing, all the other key objectives of education will follow.

Thanks for pointing me to Dr. Yong Zhou – I am now following him on Twitter, and I look forward to learning from his work.

I will also be sure to check out the…Read more

Thanks for pointing me to this podcast (I love podcasts, but don’t listen to them enough. They certainly help to optimize time)! I will most definitely check it out.

Hope you’re having a great break as well!

Like @abailey, I think it’s fantastic that you are asking the students to respond to the “problem.” Who better to determine format in which their learning should be showcased than the students themselves? It’s a great way to differentiate and…Read more

I really enjoyed this article! It’s interesting that the Grant Study researchers concluded that relationships are key to happiness – I keep coming across this idea in the literature on well-being and happiness that I’ve been reading. It all seems to point to the importance of strong connections with other people.

Thanks…Read more

I’ve taken the VIA Survey myself – and it’s something I’d like to try with my students as well. Identifying and building upon one’s strengths is definitely central to positive psychology! I’d love to hear about how it went with your Gr. 7 girls.

I agree that some sort of “before and after” snapshot would useful. I’ve been…Read more

Yes, I did read @dneville ‘s post on mindfulness – it was great! And it definitely connects to positive psychology – it’s given me some more to think about.

See you on Friday!

The Christmas season always presents a bit of a dichotomy. Musical Christmas classics that are on repeat tell us it is the “hap- happiest season of all.” Yet, the chaotic flurry of stressed, impatient shoppers […]

I still have a lot to learn about growth mindsets – I’ve really only become more familiar with the term this year through my participation in Cohort 21. I’m so excited that there is so much talk about growth mindsets in the education world. I really believe in the power having a growth mindset.

The…Read more

This is such a great example of how technology is being implemented at the “R” level of the SAMR model; it clearly illustrates the transformative nature of the technological tools we have at our fingertips! I…Read more

Thanks for your comment.

I think you’re absolutely right. It makes perfect sense to have the students reflect and blog at home, after discussing with their peers in class. And I agree that they are much more likely to “embrace” this kind of homework. You’re also correct in saying that the question I posed about returning to the…Read more

This is a really great post. I love the idea of “portfolio parties” – I think this is a great way to engage students in the process, as well as an effective way to foster a “growth mindset culture.” Thank you as well for sharing the pros and cons of the various sites that could be used to create e-portfolios – very helpful!

I w…Read more

Connection. My Grade 8 English class has spent the last several weeks unpacking this concept. It’s the Key Concept of our current MYP English unit titled, “The Youth Connection.” The students have spent much […]

I couldn’t agree with your notion of “just start trying things” more. I’ve never seen myself as someone who is overly “tech savvy,” but I have learned how to make use of various EdTech tools by simply diving in and “poking around” different websites and apps. As you say – sometimes these attempts don’t lead to anything…Read more

I just read Adam’s post. Thanks for directing me there – it’s a great read!

Like Adam said, I have (in just the last couple years) started “trying things out.” I’ve never seen myself as someone who is overly “tech savvy,” but I have learned how to make use of various EdTech tools by simply diving in and “poking around”…Read more

I’m so excited about the discussion and collaboration that is already happening – and this is just the beginning!

Our first F2F session, and the comments you’ve left here, have given me a lot to think about and reflect upon. Garth and Justin – as you mentioned on Saturday…Read more