We spent the first couple of weeks just getting comfortable with each other and the class, then the next month working through information on strengths. They took the StrengthsExplorer to identify their top 3 themes, and we did some activities with that. In analyzing the results of the StrengthsExplorer, we found something really fascinating: namely, that my class's top strengths were Relating, Competing, and Caring. This explained so much about the behavior issues and about the kids generally. They talk and they compete, but they are also empathetic. Hence, lots of talking in class, often in loud tones to be heard over one another, which makes it tough to engage them in lessons or keep order in the classroom.
Our assistant principal immediately recognized those strengths in himself and spent the next class period talking with the students about how he had used those strengths to find success at school after not doing well in previous years. He talked about playing the game of school - showing up, competing, following the rules, and taking care to make teammates instead of enemies.
Now, finally, we have turned our attention to Mindsets. We discussed Fixed and Growth Mindset (Carol Dweck) and talked about where those mindsets come from and why they're important. The students took a mindsets "quiz" to help them see where they currently stand.
The assistant principal came again today and shared a great story about an opportunity he had to participate in harvesting a whale with an Eskimo tribe. The students were really engaged in the story and were fascinated by these little people with next to nothing who had used their ingenuity to find ways to survive in very harsh environments. They were able to make some connections between the story and what we had learned about mindset.
We then played a game I invented, in which each student (in groups of 5) was given a different tool: a pair of coffee stirrers, a straw, a plastic fork, a plastic spoon, or a plastic cup. Each student was then given a plastic cup and a bowl of candy (Skittles) was placed in the center of the table. They were then challenged to fill their cups with Skittles using only the tool I had given them. There were a lot of shouts of "This isn't fair!" as those with straws and coffee stirrers tried to get Skittles one at a time into their cups, while the people with cups simply dipped their cup in and filled their other cup with what they had scooped out. They were able to connect this with the Fixed Mindset - that sometimes we think we're stuck with the tools/skills/circumstances we've been given.
Then we played another round of the game in which students had an opportunity to "level up." If the students with straws and coffee stirrers got one Skittle out, they could earn a fork. If they could get 3 Skittles with the fork, they could earn a spoon. If they could get 6 with the spoon, they could earn a cup. The students worked really hard to get to the next level so they could get more Skittles. We then had a great discussion on how this related to Growth Mindset. They even made connections to their Strengths - that those were among the tools they could use to "level up" in life.
We ended the day by watching a video called Never, Ever, Give up:
Though at first some commented on how "fat" he was, I proposed that the video was NOT about losing weight and to try to figure out the real meaning of the video. They loved this video and were really amazing in figuring out what it meant. One of my most challenging students said it's about believing in yourself. They realized that it's about believing in yourself, finding others who believe in you, not accepting negative messages, making the choice to change - they got it all. It was a very powerful experience with these young seventh graders. I was so glad to be there.
This is a really challenging experience, but when I have days like today it is completely and totally worth it!
