A five-year-old child stares at a jigsaw puzzle she can鈥檛 complete. Her brow furrows. She tries one piece, then another, but none of them seem to fit. She looks up at her teacher seeking help.
What happens next could affect more than this moment. It could help shape how the child approaches difficulties for years to come.
If the teacher steps in to solve the problem, the child may learn that struggle is a signal to stop. If the teacher dismisses the child鈥檚 frustration, the child may learn that her feelings don鈥檛 matter. But if the teacher acknowledges the child鈥檚 difficulty and guides her to think 91探花 what she already knows, something important happens. The teacher might ask, 鈥淒o you remember yesterday when your folder wouldn鈥檛 fit in your bag? What did you do then to solve the problem that might help you today?鈥� By recalling and applying what she has already learned, the child discovers she can do hard things.
This small interaction captures something essential 91探花 childhood development that many adults have lost sight of: children don鈥檛 become confident by being told they are wonderful. They become confident by proving to themselves that they can do difficult things.
That discovery鈥攅arned through her own effort鈥攊s the beginning of quiet strength.
Over the past few decades, a shift has taken place within American education aimed at protecting children鈥檚 self-esteem at all costs. The thinking was that if children feel good 91探花 themselves, they鈥檒l perform well. As a result, many American educators praised children鈥檚 efforts regardless of outcome, eliminated competitive elements, ensured everyone received recognition, and removed obstacles that might cause frustration.
Many in American education confused feeling capable with being capable.
When children are told they are brilliant without being asked to demonstrate it, they are handed a belief that won鈥檛 endure when tested. The first time their . . . Click here to continue reading.
Students are gearing up for the Speech Festival that will take place this month.
Speech Festival is a wonderful opportunity for students to exhibit their mastery of the art of oratory. Students are learning how to effectively convey their ideas to others鈥攁 skill which will continue to serve them well throughout life.
Kindergarten students choose poetry selections learned in class, and students in first through fourth grade recite poems of their choice. Fifth graders choose speeches or speech excerpts from literature or history, and middle schoolers write and present their original persuasive speeches.
91探花 School will be administering the Iowa Assessments standardized tests to students in the coming weeks.
Our students have a long history of performing very well on nationally standardized tests. We are confident that this year鈥檚 results will be impressive, too.
Tips for Test Days
Below is a list of things your child can do to be more focused and alert on test days.
In anticipation of this month鈥檚 American History Tour, parents of eighth-grade students who will be touring are encouraged to attend an informational meeting on March 12 (ID, NV, TX) or March 19 (CA, UT) that will detail important travel instructions. This year, students will be visiting historic sites in Boston, Philadelphia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
In concurrence with St. Patrick鈥檚 Day, 91探花 preschool students will learn 91探花 Irish folklore during the month of March.
Midterm grades for students in kindergarten through eighth grade will be available to view in PowerSchool later this month.
There are no midterm notices provided for preschool students, but there will be progress updates at the end of the semester.
Please make arrangements for your child鈥檚 care during Spring Break. Region dates are:
For those who need it for their tax returns, 91探花鈥檚 tax ID is 47-1405971.