Bolstering Students so they Perform
We all want kids to do their very best and we want to best for them. I believe kids truly want to do their best. How can we help them make this happen? Most of us now know that students’ mental state plays a major role in performance. I can honestly say, that I have seen this effect in coaching and in classes as a teacher. You challenge students and bolster their confidence, you will see great results.
One element, people often forget is that this is something they can learn and do for themselves. Teaching students to believe in themselves, processes, and to have confidence emboldens them to push further. Edutopia had a recent article that discussed, ‘8 Ways to Bolster Executive Functions in Teens and Tweens’, by Stephen Merrill. This is a great article with some eye-opening stats about how teens/tweens see themselves. One finding that jumped out at me was the following:
“Everyone struggles with their impulses. Across cultures, and across the lifespan, self-control is usually the lowest or second-lowest self-reported capacity,” (Merrill)
Knowing that we are predisposed to being very hard on ourselves, we can work with teens to develop that confidence that is necessary to be successful. This is not to say that students should not have failures, quite the contrary, they should have failures and have the confidence, and self agency to absorb the failure, learn from it, and then realize they are stronger for having had that failure. It is as they say, ‘a tough pill to swallow’.
As we move closer to the end of year exams, let’s try to keep an eye on each other and look to support each other. When you see a friend down help them up. If you know someone is struggling reach out to them and offer your support. If we spend a little energy helping someone, and then everyone else s
Merrill, Stephen. “8 Ways to Bolster Executive Function in Teens and Tweens.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 12 Mar. 2021, www.edutopia.org/article/8-ways-bolster-executive-function-teens-and-tweens. Accessed 31 Mar. 2021.
Bell’s Recommendations
A Month in Siena by Hisham Matar
What a beautiful story. This is a book that took me back to my days in college where I was in an Art History course. Matar writes with such vivid language you get a sense that you can actually see the images he describes. If I am honest, I actually looked up some of the images he discussed. While this is a major element of the story, it is his love for the city of Siena that really comes through. He explains the rich history and makes this a place that must reside on your ‘bucket list’. This isn’t a huge book but definitely one worth the time. Additionally, if you like this author, I also recommend his ‘In the Country of Men’.
Melinda’s Recommendations
The earth is overtaken with an Alien invasive species of black plants that in fields as black grass, vines which grow around houses and and worse of all black ‘spytrap’ like pods develop hidden underground waiting for people or animal to cross their path. The plants give of a toxic pollen that most people are allergic to but three teenagers who were either born with unusual physical differences or severe allergies. Anaya, Petra and Seth are immune to all the variants of the new species, in fact they have never felt healthier or stronger, their past allergies disappear. As events unfold we learn more about why and root for them as they come together to understand more about themselves and work to find a way to stop the invasion.
