I am looking forward to reading The Mindset by Carol Dweck this summer! A fellow teacher recommended it to me, following our conversation about "teacher perfectionsim" -- and the subsequent challenges and perceptions of defeat when not everything is going the "right" way.

 In her book, she suggests that the "mindset" is...

• Why brains and talent don’t bring success

• How they can stand in the way of it

• Why praising brains and talent doesn’t foster self-esteem and accomplishment, but jeopardizes them

• How teaching a simple idea about the brain raises grades and productivity

• What all great CEOs, parents, teachers, athletes know

In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong.

In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities.

Learn more -- Fixed Mindset VS Growth Mindset: Which One Are You?

As I dive deeper over the course of the summer, I will keep you posted on my personal growth...and would love to hear your feedback if you have had an opportunity to read and grow!

I am constantly amazed by the wealth of teaching resources available on the internet – shared through Twitter and educational blogs! In the spirit of collaboration, I wish to share a few of my favourites with you! Many of these are new to me – so please do share your experience with these online tools if you have had an opportunity to put them to effective use in the classroom!

Listed below are several “first stops” if you are just starting your collection of resources:

@ School – a UK education site that provides interactive exercises, worksheets and content-area lesson plans

A to Z Teacher Stuff – resource for lesson plans, thematic units and a discussion forum for teachers, created by teachers

Cybrary Man’s Educational Websites – an internet catalogue that houses over 20,000 online resources

EduTeacher – searchable catalogue, organized by grade level and subject, for teachers

Enchanted Learning – an index for over 25,000 educational links to teaching resources

I Love That Teaching Idea! – creative and ready-to-use classroom resources developed by teachers

Lesson Planet – a membership based online resource for lesson plans, worksheets, and teaching articles

Mr. Nussbaum: A Thousand Sites in One –an American index that includes educational games, printable resources, creative and much more!

Ontario Elementary Curriculum Links – an excellent “file” for lesson ideas and teaching resources

PBS Teachers – an index that organizes classroom resources by grade levels and lists opportunities for online professional development for each subject area

Promethean Planet – a unique teaching and sharing resource for teachers that offers lessons plans, assessment tools and opportunities for online professional development

Real Classroom Ideas – collection of online websites, activities and ideas collected by teachers  

Sophia for Educators – includes learning packages and discussion forums for increased teacher collaboration

Teachers First – over 12,000 educator-reviewed classroom and professional resources

Teacher Lingo – classroom resources such as lesson plans, printables and e-books searchable by subject and grade level

Teachable.Net –offers top quality teacher resources at a minimal cost per downloaded lesson

Teachers Pay Teachers – an open marketplace for teacher-created resources