At a young age, most of us are taught that the magic word is please. And I am not going to argue the importance of good manners. I will, however, challenge you to begin using another magic word as we embark upon a new academic year - and that word is yet.
The word "yet," when added to the end of a negative sentence, is transforming. For example, consider the difference between this sentence: "I don't know anything about robotics." and this sentence: "I don't know anything about robotics yet." One conveys a negative attitude, while the other denotes an optimistic one. This concept is called Growth Mindset and it's one I have written about before. It's a valuable way of thinking.
People who believe that their intelligence is incremental and something which develops throughout life, see life as full of learning opportunities. They aren't discouraged by what they don't understand. They accept that learning is a process. And this concept is just as important for parents, adults, teachers, and administrators as it is for students. Because we never stop learning. Nearly a quarter century of research in fields as diverse as psychology, neuroscience, and intelligence has proven that adopting a growth mindset leads to better knowledge development, learning experiences, and performance outcomes.
Change is constant - we know that. But it does not have to be intimidating. Rather, it can be exciting.
So join me in implementing this change - try using the word yet at the end of your sentences. And accept that what is currently unfamiliar will soon become familiar.
Looking forward to an outstanding year,
Nathan Hale
Superintendent
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