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5302 Final Post

5302 Blog Post

This program has really changed my mindset as a teacher. After completing my Growth Mindset Plan, I reevaluated how I want to teach my students.  I want my students to be able to take risks in my classroom without fear of failure or consequences. Students already see so many consequences as they grow up and learn to make better decisions in their behavior. The last thing I want for them to feel this same way when they are just trying to follow my directions on an assignment. I teach writing for upper elementary students. I’ve started mentioning the power of the eraser to my students. The eraser can help revise or edit any mistakes students make on their paper. Misspelled word? Erase it and fix it. Run-on sentence? Erase and squeeze in a conjunction. Found a better idea after thinking through the paper? Yep, Mr. Jumbo-Pink eraser to the rescue. All of this is possible by following through Carol Dweck’s four steps to change a fixed mindset to a growth mindset in our students (Dweck, 2006). They must believe that they can put ideas on paper, and that each and everyone of them can improve it. They can take a risk with a transition or by using figurative language. They have to be able to try out these new techniques, vocabulary, etc while having the safety net of the eraser. Otherwise, students will never write with their own voice and never realize that they can all become strong writers. This is why the COVA model can become so beneficial in the classroom. My students need to have a choice so that they have a reason to take ownership. Without expressing their voice, I’ll just have the same scripted responses, and once again, students won’t have any ownership because they are just following a format and this is not authentic or meaningful to them. And if the lessons and learning aren’t authentic, then they won’t make a lasting impact.
 All of this applies to myself as well. As I continue through the program, I need to try new approaches and platforms to not only in my own classwork, but as a way to build my own confidence and understanding that I can hopefully use in the classroom with my students and guide other teachers to do the same. Just like how I want my students’ voice to shine through their assignments, my hope is that my own choices and voice do the same in this ePortfolio. The best way I know to accomplish this is by reaching out and utilizing my professional Learning Networks. These networks will become invaluable places to seek out information and guidance as I use the COVA learning approach with my students and try new approaches to my assignments in this Lamar program. Through these networks, hopefully I’ll also find new ways to better overcome some of the challenges I mention in my Learning Manifesto. Then in the future when I transition into a different position outside of the classroom, I hope to inspire and help teachers to use the COVA approach in their lesson planning and assignments for their students.  
I can’t hope to instill a growth mindset in my students and foster their creativity and learning through the COVA approach if I’m not willing to do both myself. The end goal may be to reach my students with authentic and engaging learning, but I must lead by example as do the same in my own education. 
Digital Learning and Leading. (n.d.) Retreived from http://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=7012
Dweck, Carol. (2010). MINDSET. Retrieved from https://mindsetonline.com/ 
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