Attitude

The next year we are going to work on character traits with our students.  The three traits are self-control, GRIT and integrity.  Modeling self control should force me to not be negative about the administration.  To quote Buck Showalter, "I choose not to live in that world, even though it is easy to get there"  Buck refuses to be negative, make excuses, or feel sorry for himself.  He usually responds with "I like our guys"

When I think about it, both quotes make sense.  I love my students and feel lucky to have had the opportunity to teach them.  Also the only person that can control my attitude is me.  So I am going to join Buck and not live in that world.  I understand it will be hard for me but I think it will help my students, and certainly help myself.

Instead of seeing mistakes by the administration as a negative, I am going to see them as a challenge that my students and I can overcome.

Character, Paul Tough, Angela Duckworth and others

As we start to look at the data we find some interesting statistics.  In our school 80% of our students go to college.  63% go to a four year school and 17% go to a two year school.  From that total 60% graduate with a degree from a four year college withing 6 years.  What amazes me is that only 48% of our graduating seniors will end up with a four year degree.

Now that might not sound bad until you realize that our average SAT scores are above 1650 and 86% of our students pass the AP exams.  So it is obvious that we are giving them the cognitive skills to be successful.  However what is missing from this picture.

Duckworth and Tough would state it is grit and self control.  The ability to be persistent, not lose focus and continue until the task is done.  With that in mind a group of us are going to start trying to teach these characteristics next year in our class rooms.

I will keep you posted.