We talked a bit in class last week about the difference in thinking about yourself as smart vs. hardworking.  More importantly, we've been talking about the ramifications of those two very different mindsets.  

If you want to learn more about mindsets, I highly encourage you to sit down with a really important study done by a researcher named Carol Dweck.  You can read the entire article linked to here (focusing especially at the section toward the bottom of page 3), but the gist of it says the following:

When kids were told, "You must be smart at this," they responded by:
- believing they couldn't grow - their identity is "fixed"
- wanting easy tasks where they could continue to prove they really were smart
- losing confidence and enjoyment when they struggle on problems
- wanting to compare themselves with "lower" students to make themselves feel better
- 40% lied about scores they received to make themselves look better
- performing 20% worse on future assessments
- desiring to appear to perform well

When kids were told, "You must have worked really hard at this," they responded by:
- believing they could grow and improve at tasks
- wanting harder tasks where they could challenge themselves and get even better
- actually enjoying hard problems because they know they will grow from the experience
- wanting to compare themselves with "higher" students so they can see how to improve
- only 10% lied about scores they received
- performing 40% better on future assessments
- desiring to learn

I actually first came across this study in a book called How We Decide, by Jonah Lehrer.  It's a fascinating book on how the emotional and logical parts of our brains battle it out to get their way. 

The alarming statistic behind sexual abuse is that approximately one and six children by the time they are eighteen will have suffered some form of sexual abuse.  Yet, there are ways to help prevent this from occurring.  Last year, all the staff participated in a two hour workshop focusing on prevention and we thought it would be great for parents as well.  

We will host this workshop, “Darkness to Light”, for all parents and guests who are interested.  It is scheduled for September 25, 2012 beginning at 6:30 and ending 8:45.  You must register in advance for this class.  The cost is $10.  Please call the school or e-mail [email protected] to register.   

Good news parents!  The first homework assignment from Mr. Swedberg this year is sure to be completed exactly to your high expectations.  That's because it's YOU who will be doing it.  :)

Your assignment is to write me a letter in one million words or less that describes your child to me.  Over the years, I've found it an invaluable tool to help me to get to know your child right away.

You can type it or write it by hand.  You can email it or send it to school on a sticky note.  Whatever is easiest for you is great for me.  Just give me a glimpse into what makes your child special.  Thank you in advance for your time.  Your homework is due by this next Friday the 14th. 

Tell Mr. Swedberg how he can help you succeed by completing this survey.

Dear families of 6th graders,

Welcome back to school.  I’m so excited to get this year started and to get to know each of your children.  I have a number of new, fun things in mind that I think are going to make this our best year of 6th grade yet!

Often, this beginning of the year letter is used to give parents a glance at what we will be learning throughout the year in each class.  However, while that information is important for you to know, you can always learn it from me personally at Back to School Night, through email, or just asking your child what is going on in class.  This year, I want to use this letter as a tool for you to help your child be successful in their first year of Middle School. 

In that spirit, I want to list a few ways you can stay in touch easily and know if work is being completed, turned in, and understood consistently.  You don’t have to wait for the report card or the mid-term to know how your child is doing.  Here is what you can do any night of any week, to help your Middle-Schooler be successful:

Check their planner
They should have every class written down with their homework from that class and its due date filled in as well.  If they don’t have homework in a class, it should day “No Homework.”  If there is nothing written in for a class, they likely failed to record something important.

Check this website
Our classroom website and it will be updated almost daily with news and resources for parents and students.  When you check the website, you might find a couple videos we watched in class that day, a tip on how to study more effectively, a reminder of an upcoming field trip, or a parent survey.  It really is the best way to get a glimpse into the classroom and it should be checked daily.

Look for graded assignments as they come home
Your child will have a folder in the classroom marked, “Graded Assignments to Take Home”.  If you aren’t seeing many graded assignments coming home, you should make sure your child has emptied this folder.

Email, call, or stop in any time
My email is [email protected], you can reach me by phone at 733-7303 x106, and I will always make time for concerned parents.

This is going to be a great year!  You child is going to grow and mature, think hard about what it means to be a Christian, work very hard, and be surrounded by amazing people who care a great deal for their success.