Monthly Archives: September 2011

What Motivates You

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Over the summer, one of the books from my reading list was Daniel Pink’s Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.

The book explores what motivates people and looks at three key elements of motivation – autonomy, mastery and purpose. Rather than review the book, I would like to share a few key thoughts that resonated with me:

  • “Rewards, we’ve seen, can limit the breadth of our thinking. But extrinsic motivators… can also reduce the depth of our thinking.” (p. 56)
  • “…school-children who are paid to solve problems typically choose easier problems and therefore learn less.” (p. 58)
  • “…positive feedback can have an enhancing effect on intrinsic motivation.” (p. 67)
  • “A sense of autonomy has a powerful effect on individual performance and attitude.” (p. 90)
  • “…what people believe shapes what people achieve.” (p. 120 – credited to Carol Dweck).

The book has many ideas that are relevant to schools, and would make for great discussion topics among teachers and parents alike.

I recommend you read this book. For those of you who are more into video learning, RSA Animate has created interesting video on Drive  that you might like to view.

I encourage you to find out what motivates yourself, and what motivates your children.

Take care.

What Did You Do in School Today?

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At the end of every school day, sometimes around dinnertime, children are often asked, “How was your day?” or “What Did You Do in School Today?”

Have you tried asking your child that this year? The answers may vary, depending on age, gender, or personality of the child.

A grade 2 might say – “We went to library today and I got a book!” or “At recess today I played soccer and scored a goal!”

A grade 4 might say – “I had a fun day.” or “In math we started multiplying.”

A grade 7 might say – “Nothing.”

No matter what they answer, please don’t stop asking. Connecting to children about their school day (or any day) is very important.

Add to you repertoire of questions (beyond the “How was your day?” or “What Did You Do in School Today?”).

    “Tell me about something new you learned today.”
    “Who did you play with at recess and what did you play?”
    “What happened at school today that made you smile? Tell me about it.”
    “Did you see anyone do something nice for someone else? Describe for me what he/she did.”
    “If you had to write a story about your day, what would you choose to write about?”

A friendly hint about the last one: if you want it written down, you write it (scribe it) as they tell the story. If students have to write all their stories, they often resort to the simplest story they can tell: “Nothing.”

Communicate early with your children about school, and ask a variety of questions. Keep asking, and keep sharing. Encourage story telling, and avoid (when possible) yes or no questions.

Stories come in all shapes and sizes. Be curious about your child’s day, and they will be open and share what goes on in their world.

Share your stories.

Take care

Our Welcome Back Social

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Last night we had a Welcome Back social event at school. It was a big success. Ice cream was served, children played in bouncy castles, and many volunteers joined together to get the new school year off to a great start.

Children and adults alike brought their own bowls and spoons to create super sundaes, and chai tea was available to adults in the inner courtyard. Some families forgot to bring their spoons, and solutions were found. Ben and Leanne had to eat ice cream with a fork, but they did not seem to mind.

Many thanks to the parent volunteers who helped get the school ready for the night. The courtyard looked great, the Jump for Joy play area for kids was excellent, and the atmosphere was relaxed and inviting.

It was wonderful to meet so many families last night, and see our students spending time with their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.

Cleveland Parent Advisory Council members volunteer many hours of their time to help students and staff make Cleveland a wonderful place for all children. For Cleveland parents, please remember you too are members of the Cleveland Parent Advisory Council (CPAC). The CPAC is always in need of more parent participation, and there are many opportunities for parents to give as little (or as much) time as the can. Many hands make light work.

On behalf of all students – Thank you.

On behalf of the staff of the school – Thank you.

Take care.

Rainy Days and School Days

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“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Do we have to go outside on rainy days?” asked a senior student late last week, when the weather was warm and sunny.

I quickly answered, “Yes.”

I am a fan of going outside (and sending kids outside) to play during recess and lunch, and I don’t think a little rain should stop someone from going out. I believe that getting outside for a couple of break periods during the school day helps with learning. Students can run around, get the blood flowing and get oxygen to the brain.

Today was our first rainy day at recess, and the rain did come down quite heavily. Not everyone was prepared for rain, but students did go outside, and no one seemed to mind (or at least on one complained to me).

“I am an optimist, but I’m an optimist who carries a raincoat.” ~ Harold Wilson

Please come to school prepared for the weather. Younger students may want to bring a change of clothes. For those parents who have not seen a playground filled with 500 children playing in the rain, I would like you to know that, even if you do send your children to school with proper rain gear, they don’t always put it on. A change of clothes can help a lot.

There will be days that inside options are given, and students may be playing quietly in their classes or reading in the library. For most many rainy days, however, students will be sent outside for recess and lunch to run around, and to enjoy some time in the rain.

A little bit of rain should not stop the fun.

“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.” ~ Roger Miller

Take care

The Sneetches and Other Stories

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Today we had our first whole school assembly of the year. All 500 children, their teachers and our support staff came down to the gym after lunch for get re-introduced to staff, meet new staff, and to set expectations for the year.

School assemblies are all slightly different in each school. Some schools have them once a week, while others do them once a month. They may celebrate Students of the Month, or they may review a virtue that the school is focusing on.

At Cleveland our assemblies start with the singing of Oh Canada (en français et aussi en anglais), and then we move on to the mai purpose of the assembly. Today, the main purpose was welcoming everyone, meeting our Kindergarten and other new students, and story time with the Principal, where I read The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Suess.

Have you read it? It is one of my favourites.

The Sneetches are great story characters – those with stars upon their belly, and those with no stars. In their mistaken belief that one type of Sneetch is better than another, they end up giving all of their money to Sylvester McMonkey McBean trying to become the better Sneetch. In the end, the Sneetches learn a valuable lesson about accepting everyone, even if they do not have “stars upon thars.”

What did I hope the children would learn from the Sneetches? Accept everyone, and include others in play.

Looking forward to seeing this in action on our playground and in our classrooms.

Take care.