This weekend was gorgeous - nearly 65 degrees in March!  To celebrate and get some fresh air, my family and I headed to the beach near Huot's.

I tried to fly a kite, but the wind wasn't cooperating and the kite fell apart. I gave up my kite-flying attempt and searched for sea glass instead.  Growth Mindset.

My 18-month-old daughter tried to walk in the sand, but she's just learning and found the even territory was a bit tricky.  Each time she fell, her pants got a bit soggier and sandier, and she got a bit crankier.  But she got up and tried again and again and again!  Growth mindset.

My husband tried skimming stones.  The first few sunk like lead, but he kept looking for better stones and finally found several to skip across the calm water.  Growth Mindset.

My 5-year-old son tried skimming stones, too.  Each time he tried, his stones sunk.  He became more and more frustrated, and eventually he said "I'm never going to be good at throwing.  I'm never going to be good at skipping rocks.  I'm never going to be good at baseball."  Fixed Mindset.

It was heartbreaking to hear him giving up and equating a tough time with rock skimming to a lifetime of failure at everything.  It left me thinking, what can we do to help our children learn to try/try again?

Then, this morning, I picked up a book called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.  It's not my normal book - I typically choose fiction - but the title had me!  I'm reading it as fast as I can, and already I'm thinking about the ways that I can help develop growth mindset for myself, my students, and my own children.  

To end the year, students have been viewing my favorite movie - Spellbound - which follows 8 middle school students as they prepare to compete in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee.  Several students asked "Whatever happened to those kids?"  Here's an article I found that answers that question:

Today and tomorrow in English classes, we will be watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee.  Each year, I find myself wholly impressed by the amazing word athletes (some are only 9 or 10 years old!) who use their training and talent to spell some very challenging words.  Check out the Spelling Bee on prime time tomorrow night on ESPN.  #wordnerds #mysuperbowl #bewarethebell

Check out my post from last year if you wish!

After several days of studying Greek and Latin root words, we played a rousing game of Latin Root Pictionary yesterday in C8.  Evidence below:

I love the website Common Sense Media, and I recently found an article there called "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."  Find the article by clicking the green button above.

Which of these books have you read and loved?
Which books are missing from the list, in your opinion?

When I was a student, many concepts in school came naturally to me. I especially loved math class, and I loved using what I'd learned to solve complex problems.  Gym class was another story; no matter how hard I tried, nothing came easily to me, and I gave up on a lot of activities because I couldn't accept the challenge.

As I began my teaching career, I sympathized with students who struggled to read, write, spell, and use correct grammar and mechanics.  While these all were easy for me, I knew it wasn't easy for my students all the time.  

The summer before my first year teaching, I went away for a weekend to learn how to teach a group fitness class called Group Active.  One of the first things our trainer had us do as a group was to draw a slip of paper out of a hat.  When I opened up my slip of paper, it said "ballet".  I couldn't understand what this had to do with the fitness class, but then it all became suddenly clear.  One at a time, the trainer called us to the front of the room and played music for us.  Was I going to have to dance ballet in front of all of these people?  I've never done ballet in my life!  I was so nervous.  I was up first -  it was my turn - and a beautiful ballad played. The trainer said, "Go ahead, Noelle.  Show us ballet.  It's easy!"  All of my gym class nightmares replayed in my mind in that moment. After shaking off some temporary paralyzation, I summoned up everything I could remember about ballet - the graceful arms, the pointed toes, the twirling tutus - and I pretended to dance ballet.  It was pathetic and embarrassing and definitely not easy.  I felt like a fool.  The trainer then explained that we are all beginners and that learning something new can be a challenge.  Our job as group fitness instructors is to help everyone see themselves as beginners working toward a goal.  Our language is our first tool in teaching, and it makes a difference.

I took this to heart and I've brought the concept into my teaching.  Sometimes, in an effort to try to inspire a student, I've found myself saying, "You can do this.  This is easy."  Then, I flashback to that moment when I had to dance ballet, and I remember the feeling of being told "This is easy" when, for me, it simply wasn't. 

Let's be careful to use encouraging words that don't assume or dismiss the feelings of others.  For many, it's not easy. 

Instead of saying "You can do this.  This is easy", I promise to try to say "You can do this.  Let me show you."  

PS - I now teach Group Active at Saco Sport & Fitness - come try it out if you can!  Click here for the schedule.

Only 8 days into the 2014-15 school year, the Gallant family welcomed Ramona Ruby.  Mr. Barton took the reins early on and has accepted a position as a 6th grade teacher in Auburn.  I know students were in great hands under his leadership!

Now, after two weeks back in classroom C8, I'm starting to learn about my students and continue with what I love most about teaching - helping each student find his or her unique voice.

One fun way I learned about students as authors and as people was through the Six Word Memoir unit.  Check out our classes' Six Word Memoir video:

Today, a student and I were discussing a commercial parody he had made for the Lifelong Writing Project.  The student's commercial ended with a series of bloopers that reminded me of the Buttery Flaky Crust outtakes from a recent Dysart's Restaurant commercial.   

Here are some lessons we learned from watching these bloopers:

1. It's good to laugh at your mistakes.
   
2. If you keep trying, you'll eventually succeed.
   
3. Sometimes you just need a little bit of help to get the job done.
   
4. Sometimes simple things become complicated if you overthink them.
   
5. Chicken Pot Pie is delicious.
   

Next week, hundreds of students from around the United States will meet in Washington DC to put on my favorite show of the year - the Scripps National Spelling Bee!

We will watch the preliminary rounds in class on Wednesday thanks to a complimentary live stream of the broadcast on ESPN3.  Anyone who wishes to watch the final rounds should tune in Thursday, May 29 at 8pm for prime time coverage on ESPN.  

Spelling is my favorite sport!

Could you make it as a national finalist in the Scripps National Spelling Bee?  Click here to test your skills!