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Change is something many struggle with. When talking about change in an education setting it can have a negative reaction to students, teachers, administration and faculty. That being said each individual reacts differently. These reactions can defer but as long as these reactions don't hurt/affect others than they're normal. Not to be worried about. That being said as an educator it is my job to promote a growth mindset. This prepares our students for change, which prepares them for life and the future.

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This video has helped me understand why my students and I myself at times try to avoid change. Understanding the why, will help you get results.

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Sometimes as educators we forget the basics. It is always good to remind yourself. Most importantly failures happen, we can't feel negative about it them we must use it as a learning point. So the outcome can be magnificent.

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As educators, it's important to push the boundaries and try new things in the classroom. Especially towards the middle and end of the school year, students need to be engaged and excited.

When you're a more seasoned teacher, it's much easier to try new and riskier things-you have years of experience to fall back on if things don't go as planned.

Things still go wrong for me all the time. After over a decade I still run into issues when trying new things in the classroom. But these issues should not stop any teacher-new or seasoned-from trying new and innovative things.

Below are some tips when creating or implementing a new idea or lesson plan:

Seek Advice from Other Teachers

While a particular idea or activity may be new to you, it may not be to one of your peers. Check in with other teachers around you to see if they have experience with something similar and can share advice.

If a new lesson or activity does not go exactly as planned, you shouldn't just throw out the entire thing. Evaluate different aspects and determine small potential changes to optimize the activity.

When I taught High School English, I incorporated a unit on public speaking for the first time. My students immediately dreaded speaking in front of their classmates, and the first exercise went terribly. They were all visibly nervous-and while I wanted to prepare my students for the real world (college, interviews, jobs), I wanted to do it in a way that was enjoyable for them.

Instead of scrapping the unit altogether, I modified how we did it. Rather than immediately present in front of their peers, I had each student record their speech on their phone to playback and listen to in class. This gave them the opportunity to practice a few times, if they wanted to, before showing the class. As a class, we could talk about inflection, tone, pace, and more before beginning live speeches. This made the class feel more comfortable and prepared to speak publicly.

Involve Students in the Process

When possible, be honest and upfront with your students. Tell them when you're trying something new, and ask them to help you navigate through the experience as a class. Ask for their input-find out what they liked, what they didn't like, and how they would do it differently.

Getting them involved in the production of a new idea or lesson plan will engage them even further in the activity.

Realize that not everything will go perfectly, especially when trying something new. When something goes wrong or unexpected, relax and remember that you're learning, too. As teachers, we often remind our students to learn from their mistakes, so we should remember to try to take our own advice.

Taking risks as a new teacher may be daunting, but the possibilities are endless. Don't wait to be a veteran teacher to try brand new things-your students will thank you for it!

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Tips for Trying New Things in the Classroom | NEA

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As educators, it's important to push the boundaries and try new things in the classroom. Especially towards the middle and end of the school year, students need to be engaged and excited. When you're a more seasoned teacher, it's much easier to try new and riskier things-you have years of experience to fall back on if things don't go as planned.

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Found this amazing quote. Sweet and simple. Change might seem tough, but is needed for growth. More importantly our students need this idea to be successful after my class.

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Just as I tell my students, the best way to overall improve yourself is to go out and do something. As an educator we have many opportunities that can and will help us grow. For example during my student teaching I knew my weakness was math and science. Instead of avoiding anytime I heard an educator in that subject was going to be absent I stepped forward and said I wanted to substitute those classes. Practice makes perfect. Volunteer on your day off, or say yes whenever a coworker ask for help.

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Challenges help us grow, without adversity we can not grow. This article further backs that opportunities and challenges bring growth. Therefore improving you as an educator and person overall.

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In education, we often talk about how to challenge our students-but what about ourselves as teachers? In a teaching career, it's normal to find yourself in a rut or recognize a need to make changes-the skill is knowing how. Here are 20 ways to challenge yourself and your teaching.

1. Take risks

Say "hello" to the niggle in your gut that's telling you to consider taking a challenge. Some call this "feel the fear and do it anyway".

2. Don't wait, start small.

Once you have an idea, don't forget about it or let it dissolve over time: Begin-but with simple expectations at first. The idea is an evolution, not a revolution, of your skills set.

3. Present at a conference

Perhaps the results of a new technique you've implemented in class, changes to your school, or any other aspect of your teaching practice that may help others in the field field. Ask a colleague to present with you, if you prefer.

4. Write a 1,000 word mini-thesis

Just for yourself. Pick a topic of education that interests you and research it: its history, main players, and where it's at now.

5. Try blended learning

Maybe this technique (at its core, combining face-to-face time with computer technology) is just what you need? Here's more information on blended learning.

6. Evaluate your teaching

Give out anonymous student surveys, cultivate a habit of evaluating yourself as soon as class is over ("What went well? What didn't go so well? How do I know?"), and establish a more comprehensive end-of-semester review later. Here are more tips on how to self-review your teaching.

7. Ask for feedback

Reach out to your school's director for a review or ask a senior teacher to watch you teach a lesson and give you some pointers to improve on.

8. Try podcasting (or incorporate it in your class)

Podcast alone or get together with a chatty colleague. If life behind the mic is not for you, maybe your students will get a kick out of podcasts? Here are 14 ways to use podcasts in class.

9. Use student devices for good

It's normal to be wary of the influence of students' devices on their learning, however, it's safe to say that screens aren't going anywhere in a hurry. Here are 8 ways to use your students' devices -for the better.

10. Be assertive

If your opinion is asked for-speak up. If you have concerns-let a superior know. If you have something to say at a staff meeting-say it.

11. Be competitive...

...with yourself, that is. Look to where you want to go with your teaching and feel the fire in your belly to be better than you are. Tip: making teaching resolutions can help with this (whether at the beginning of a new year or semester).

12. Create or join a teachers group

Whether online or real-life, teachers support and social groups can do wonders for your emotional and professional development.

13. Learn something new

Learning a language, to cook, dance, photography, or other skill will help you reconnect with the sensation of being a learner.

14. Try new productivity ideas

Being more efficient helps teachers keep school out of their minds while at home or during the weekends. Here are a few of our favorite productivity tips for teachers.

15. Update your skillset

This could mean further study to teach another subject, taking webinars, or studying an online course. Tip: We offer free teacher professional development webinars (and an accompanying EF Teacher Development Certificate) throughout the year.

16. Use voice recording equipment

Thanks to our smartphones, all of us are walking around with little voice recorders. Put yours to good use with these 13 ideas.

17. Keep your mind busy

Read widely, listen to podcasts, and watch TED talks. Not just about your specific teaching area, but about its history, the history of education, great educators' biographies...plus linguistics, politics, science, the psychology of learning...the list goes on.

18. Refuse the negative

Pull yourself away from the black hole of negative conversation. If this happens at the staffroom during lunchtime, treat yourself to a semi-regular café lunch or go for a walk to the park. If you have a negative colleague, surround yourself with those whose outlook complements and supports yours.

19. Shut off from work

It's an often-cited tip from more senior teachers: There will always be more work to do. So, practice good work recovery techniques and learn how and when to switch off and leave work at school.

Want to study a language abroad? Order a free EF brochure

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19 ways to challenge yourself as a teacher ‹ EF Teacher Zone

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In education, we often talk about how to challenge our students-but what about ourselves as teachers? In a teaching career, it's normal to find yourself in a rut or recognize a need to make changes-the skill is knowing how. Here are 20 ways to challenge yourself and your teaching.

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Improve Curriculum and  Advanced Teaching 

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Improve Curriculum and  Advanced Teaching 

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Besides opportunities that can arise from showing up to work, there are educational opportunities for you to have a higher degree in your name. Pursuing further education will help you grow due to the new knowledge, while also opening more opportunities due to being more qualified.

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As we have learned through life, change will happen and we can not do anything to stop it. That being said everyone is affected by change differently, due to how they perceive change. Growth is similar because it can be different for everyone. That being said not all changes are positive, it is how they respond to the change. A positive response will bring growth. Rather than failing a test, and looking at it as a failure. For growth you need to study for the next test so you can grow, get a good grade. No matter the failure, growth is always possible!

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This article is insightful, it helped me open my eyes to other perceptions. Great for helping turn negatives into positives.

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Schooling and the power of perception - Kappan Online

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While in grad school, I was introduced to Ray Rist’s work on the association between children’s socioeconomic status and their educational performance. In one article, Rist (1970) described how a classroom teacher divided her pupils into three learning groups: The “quick learners,” as the teacher called them, were seated in the front row, while two […]

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Helping student with their perceptions will make your job easier. More importantly their lives will be benefitted positively.

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Change is anything we do differently, whether it is big or small. Change is also something new being put in our day to day. It also is not in our control, many things can happen that we can not avoid.

Growth is something that we can benefit from change. For example, finding a solution to past failures. (Educator doesn't turn grades in on time, next time plans it out and does them before time.) In other words bettering ourselves and making alterations so we can adapt to change.

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Back to Carol Dweck! She has done extensive research on growth mindset vs fixed. This article dives deeper into it. The visual really helps you understand what and how a growth mindset works.

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Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University, has done extensive research and writing on "fixed" versus "growth" mindset. She differentiates them this way: "To briefly sum up the findings: Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts). This is because they worry less about looking smart and they put more energy into learning.

Fixed mindset triggers occur when students face challenges or criticism or perform poorly in comparison with others. You'll know this is happening if you feel insecure or defensive. Moreover, students for whom performance is paramount, looking smart is critical, even if they don't learn a thing.

On the other hand, if you are in a growth mindset, you will find yourself collaborating, sharing information, seeking feedback, and admitting errors. A growth mindset encourages risk-taking without worrying about failure because mistakes represent a chance to learn.
Read more about common misperceptions of a growth mindset.
Here's an excellent video summary of the growth/fixed mindset spectrum:

Academic tenacity is a term for non-cognitive factors that promote long-term learning and achievement. In a report for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dweck and colleagues Gregory M. Waltonand Geoffrey L. Cohen identified the following characteristics of academic tenacity. These learners:

Believe that they belong in school academically and socially. School is part of who they are and is seen as a route to future goals, such as providing for their families or contributing to their community or society.

Are engaged in learning, view effort positively, and can forego immediate pleasures for the sake of schoolwork. For example, they seek challenging tasks that will help them learn new things, rather than tasks in their comfort zone that require little effort, but also provide little opportunity to learn.

Are not derailed by difficulty, be it intellectual or social. They see a setback as an opportunity for learning or a problem to be solved rather than as a humiliation, a condemnation of their ability or worth, a symbol of future failures, or a confirmation that they do not belong. This is true in the case of a specific assignment as well as with their studies in general.

Know how to remain engaged over the long haul and how to deploy new strategies for moving forward effectively.

So how do you foster a growth mindset in yourself? For a start,

Acknowledge and embrace imperfections.

Follow the research on brain plasticity.

Replace the word "failing" with the word "learning."

Value the process over the end result.

Emphasise growth over speed.

And here are 20 other tips for developing a growth mindset.

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The Importance of Having a Growth Mindset

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Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University, has done extensive research and writing on "fixed" versus "growth" mindset. She differentiates them this way: "To briefly sum up the findings: Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset.