After reading the first four chapters in the Art of Possibility, I began thinking about my personal story and my survival thinking. I use the personal motto, “attitude is contagious” and try hard each and every day to live it. Although, people try hard to crush my spirit I don’t let them defeat my positive outlook.
The reading shared the story of the shoe factory with one marketing scout seeing the negative “no one wears shoes” and the other seeing the positive “they have no shoes”. Which describes you? I tend to look for the positives in any given situation.
As a teacher, I am constantly looking for the positive and potential in my students. It wasn’t until I read chapter 3 and the Michelangelo quote that it truly became clear. We must chip away the obstacles that tend to get in the way of each child’s developing to their fullest potential. Using the practice of “Giving an A” could transform attitudes and open the universe of possibility for even our students.
As I reflected on this chapter, I wonder what grade my students would give me?
It really made me reflect on my own teaching and even my personal relationships. Revealing I must talk and get to know the why behind the attitude, before I can truly change the thinking.
Comment to Jana:
Jana,
I think the practice of “giving an A” would greatly change how students view school. They get so much pressure put on them by teachers and parents to “do well” and “get good grades” that this practice would give students time to enjoy their learning and take some risks. This is something that I am looking forward to implementing into my own classroom.
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