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Growth typically implies a positive outcome. To achieve growth we have to go through a journey to achieve the positive outcome. Educators should help the students learn how to embrace and self correct on this journey to find that growth they are seeking out. Growth only happens when the person is ready to receive it and embrace it for the better. Growth should happen throughout the year in our classrooms otherwise we have failed out students.

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What's better? What should we strive for? Is there a real difference we should take note of?

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Classrooms should be filled with plenty of opportunities for growth or change for students to take part of. We are responsible for ensuring each student leaves our classrooms in a better form than they entered it. Please read the following for ideas!

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Change implies transformation both negative and or positive. Classrooms should foster change in students in a positive light. Students have to make the conscious choice to lean into the opportunity to better themselves for that positive outcome. Many might not see the light at the end of the road which could lead to a negative outcome so building relationships with students could deter that. Change could be good if properly encouraged.

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Students pay rent! This is a new cool idea that the teacher pays the students wages for things they accomplish in the classroom. Then every month they have to pay rent on their desk or fees for new pencils. This gives them the opportunity to growth with real adult life lessons even before the step out of the classroom and into the real world!

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Do you foster growth or change into your classroom? 

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Rebecca is an amazing student who describes her time in her classroom when she wanted to try for Student Council but did not want to write a speech- mom made her which resulted her to write a poor speech. Rebecca learned a life lesson with her experience by using her growth mindset!

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What Growth Mindset Means for Kids | Rebecca Chang | TEDxYouth@Jingshan

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Differences between Growth and Change can include...

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Differences between Growth and Change can include...

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1. "Change can be instant- growth is slow"

2. "Change can be made by a single decision- growth requires constant motivation and learning"

3. "Change can be negative or positive/ growth is always positive"

Both change and growth require a level of action. You have to be responsible for your actions and the consequences it may bring. Students need to be given the opportunity to make that decision and continue the hopefully positive option to grow into more well rounded humans.

Source if you wish to look further is linked above!

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6 Ways Change & Growth Differ – Which Do You Need? | Danielle Bernock

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Change and growth are not the same. What if your happiness depends on which you choose – to change or grow? How do you decide which you need?

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Opportunities for High Schoolers at ANY Point! 

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Opportunities for High Schoolers at ANY Point! 

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High school is a crazy but important time. Students can choose any path they wish once they get that diploma in their hands. Options could be university or community college, tech college, straight into a career or take a year to explore. Opportunities that are given to students to help them choose set by the high school are college classes, job release, even a form of technical college that gets them certifications. A Plus Program is another great opportunity as allows the participant to give back to the community for 2 free years of community college while giving them time to explore majors or career paths!

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Temporary Guidance
A+ Algebra I End of Course Exam Requirement for 2023 Seniors Status Update-Issued January 9, 2023
The A+ Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship that provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend participating public community colleges or vocational/technical schools, or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools. The information on this page is effective for the 2023-2024 academic year, unless otherwise noted.

Legislation passed in 2016 expanded the A+ Program to non-public high schools. To participate in A+, non-public high schools must complete and submit a Notification of Assurances for A+ High Schools to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and be designated by the State Board of Education.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for assistance you must meet the following requirements:

High School Students

Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Enter into a written agreement with your high school prior to graduation.

Attend a designated A+ high school for 2 years prior to graduation.¹

2020 High School Seniors and Forward who attended an A+ designated high school for any 2 years of the 4 years prior to high school graduation have met this requirement.

In addition, regardless of graduation year, if one of the parents is a member of the military on active duty or has retired from the military and relocated to Missouri within one year of their retirement, the student is exempt from this requirement. However, they must attend an A+ designated high school in the school year immediately preceding graduation and meet all of the other high school eligibility requirements.

Graduate from an A+ designated high school with an overall unweighted grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Have at least a 95% attendance record overall for grades 9-12.

Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring, of which up to 25% may include job shadowing prior to graduation.
High school policy may allow this criterion to be met up to 6 months beyond high school graduation in exceptional circumstances.

Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol while in grades 9-12.

Have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam or a higher level DESE approved end-of-course exam in the field of mathematics.³

2018 High School Seniors and Forward - If a student meets all of the eligibility requirements for their high school graduating class except the end of course exam requirement, they may establish eligibility by achieving a combined ACT math subscore and high school GPA in accordance with the following scale.

A student may achieve the qualifying score as a high school or postsecondary student. If the student achieves the score as a postsecondary student, they may be eligible for an award in the same term that they take the test provided that they established eligibility before the institution's reimbursement request is submitted.

Initial Postsecondary Students

Enroll and attend full-time at a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or private two-year vocational/technical school. (Students who have a disability as defined by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and are unable to enroll full time because of their disability but are enrolled in at least six credit hours may be considered to be enrolled full time.)

Be seeking a degree or certificate at the school in which you are enrolled.
If you have already received an associate degree or baccalaureate degree you are not eligible for the A+ scholarship program.

Not be pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or divinity.

Not have a criminal record preventing receipt of federal Title IV student financial aid.

Make a good faith effort to secure all available federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Students attending a school that does not participate in Title IV programs must complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator, which is a tool for estimating the level of need for federal financial aid.

Achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point on a 4.0 scale at the end of the fall semester (or at the end of the initial payment period for non-semester- based programs) and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school.

Complete 12 semester credit hours or the equivalent (6 hours during the summer term) each term in which you receive an A+ award in order to maintain eligibility for the next term. Students in clock hour programs must complete 90% of the clock hours required for the applicable federal payment period.

Renewal Students

Continue to meet the eligibility requirements for initial students, except for the 2.0 CGPA fall semester requirement.

Maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school.
A renewal student is someone who has received an A+ payment, or who was eligible but whose award was reduced to zero after federal, non-loan aid was applied to tuition and fees, in a prior academic year. If this is the first academic year in which you have received an A+ payment, you are not subject to the renewal 2.5 minimum GPA requirement but you must achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average by the end of the fall term, or the end of the initial payment period for non-semester based programs.

Make a good faith effort to secure all available, non-loan federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) each academic year. Students attending a school that does not participate in Title IV programs must complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator, which is a tool for estimating the level of need for federal financial aid.

Complete 12 semester credit hours or the equivalent (6 hours during the summer term) each term in which you receive an A+ award in order to maintain eligibility for the next term. Students in clock hour programs must complete 90% of the clock hours required for the applicable federal payment period.

How much can I receive?

The scholarship will reimburse, within the limits described in the following paragraph, the unpaid balance of your tuition and general fees after all available, non-loan federal financial assistance, such as the federal Pell grant, has been applied to your account. This may result in a zero award if your Pell grant is sufficient to cover all tuition and general fee charges. General fees are fees that are charged to all students and do not include fees specific to an individual program or group of students.

The tuition amount eligible for reimbursement is capped at the published standard per credit hour tuition rate charged by State Technical College of Missouri. The reimbursement cap is subject to change annually as tuition rates change. The maximum reimbursement rate is announced in late spring or early summer each year. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the maximum rate is $209.00 per credit hour or $5.60 per clock-hour.

The amount reimbursed may be reduced if there are insufficient state appropriations. The following factors may also affect the amount you are eligible to receive:

Reimbursement will be made for completed coursework, including remedial coursework, for which a standard grade was assigned and that is required by your school for the completion of the degree or certificate. For A+ Scholarship purposes, a grade of Incomplete is considered a standard grade.

Coursework that is part of a higher level certificate or degree program taken after receipt of a certificate will be reimbursed if it is related to the original certificate.

Dropped coursework (including coursework from which you officially or unofficially withdrew):

Will NOT be reimbursed if you complete 12 semester credit hours (6 in summer).

Will be reimbursed if you complete fewer than 12 semester credit hours (6 in summer) because you will be ineligible for A+ until the dropped hours are completed.

For example, if you enroll in 15 hours but only complete 12, A+ will not pay for the 3 hours that were dropped. If you enroll in 15 hours but only complete 9, A+ will pay for all 15 hours but you will be ineligible for A+ until you have completed at least 3 hours (9+3=12 hour completion requirement).

Repeat coursework, which includes courses for which you have already received a grade (including a failing grade), will not be reimbursed.

How can I apply?

There is no paper application to fill out; however, you should check with your community college or vocational/ technical school to see what materials they require along with the A+ seal/stamp on your high school transcript in order to confirm your A+ eligibility.

In addition, you must complete the FAFSA® each year. If you are attending a school that does not participate in Title IV programs, you must complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator (previously FAFSA4caster), which is a tool for estimating your level of need for federal financial aid. MDHEWD receives electronic FAFSA® records for Missouri residents directly from the federal government. Late filing may jeopardize your payment as well as eligibility for other state aid programs.

For the summer term, check with the school you are attending to see which academic year (July 1 to June 30) contains the summer term. For example, if the 2023 summer term is part of the upcoming academic year (called a "header"), you would need to file a 2023-24 FAFSA® in order to receive a summer award. If the 2023 summer term is part of the prior academic year (called a "trailer"), a 2022-23 FAFSA® is required.

Although you must file a FAFSA® for the correct academic year based on your school's academic year, MDHEWD will always provide funding for the summer term after July 1, even if your school considers summer to be a trailer to the previous academic year.

How will I know if I am eligible?

MDHEWD does not provide notice to students of eligibility. Contact your high school A+ Coordinator for your eligibility status based on the high school eligibility criteria. Contact the financial aid office at the school you attend for your postsecondary eligibility status.

How will I receive my award?

Your community college or vocational/technical school will submit a reimbursement request to MDHEWD by the deadlines established for each term (summer, fall and spring). MDHEWD will then disburse the funds to the school and the school will apply the funds to your account.

How long can I receive an award?

Your eligibility expires when the earliest of the following occurs:

48 months after the graduation date documented on your high school transcript.

Students providing service to any branch of the U.S. armed forces can defer their eligibility (see "Can the scholarship be deferred?" below).

Students graduating from high school in mid-year may be eligible for a spring award if their high school transcripts indicate the mid-year graduation date.

Receipt of an associate degree

Completion of 105% of the hours required for the program in which you are currently enrolled

Calculation for 105% - Includes:

Calculation for 105% - Excludes:

All hours, including developmental/remedial hours, taken at your current A+ eligible school

All known hours, including developmental/remedial hours, taken at any other A+ eligible school

Hours taken at any non-eligible A+ school, including out-of-state schools, that your current school accepts in transfer

Hours earned for work performed before high school graduation, including (but not limited to): dual credit, dual enrollment, technical education articulation, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate

Hours from a non-eligible school not accepted in transfer by current school

Calculation for 105% - Includes

Calculation for 105% - Excludes

Hours earned at any institution (A+ eligible or non-eligible) prior to receipt of the initial certificate that transfer into the new program

Hours taken at any A+ eligible school, including your current school, after receipt of the initial certificate. This includes any developmental/remedial hours completed

Hours taken at any non-eligible A+ school, including out-of-state schools, after receipt of the initial certificate and that your current school accepts in transfer

Hours earned for work performed before high school graduation, including (but not limited to): dual credit, dual enrollment, technical education articulation, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate

Hours from a non-eligible school not accepted in transfer by current school

How do I renew my award?

You may renew your award annually until your eligibility expires (see "How long can I receive an award?" above).

To renew, initial students must:

Complete the FAFSA®, or Federal Student Aid Estimator (previously FAFSA4caster) if applicable, in order to make a good faith effort to secure a Pell grant or other federal aid.

Achieve a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average by the end of the fall term.

Complete at least 12 credit hours in each fall and spring term in which you receive an A+ award (6 credit hours in summer).

Achieve a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average by the end of the spring term.

To renew, renewal students must:

Complete the FAFSA®, or Federal Student Aid Estimator (previously FAFSA4caster) if applicable, each year in order to make a good faith effort to secure a Pell grant or other federal aid

Maintain a 2.5 grade point average and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school.

Complete at least 12 credit hours in each fall and spring term in which you receive an A+ award (6 credit hours in summer).

If you fail to meet the renewal criteria, you will not be eligible to again receive the A+ award until the term after your school determines that the criteria have been met. Schools have different policies for how frequently they monitor satisfactory academic progress. You will need to check with your school to determine when your award might be reinstated.

How do I transfer my award?

If you choose to transfer to a different participating Missouri school, either between academic years or semesters, you must contact MDHEWD at (800) 473-6757, option 4. Failure to notify MDHEWD of the transfer may reduce the total amount you receive under the scholarship.

Can the scholarship be deferred?

If you are unable to attend school due to service on active duty in any branch of the United States armed forces, you may qualify for a deferment of your scholarship eligibility. The deferment will ensure you receive 48 months of eligibility (see "How long can I receive an award?" above). You must return to full-time student status within 12 months of the end of your military service and provide a copy of your DD214 to verify the length of your service in order to resume your eligibility.

To defer your eligibility you must submit a written request to:

Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
ATTN: A+
P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469

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Missouri Department of Higher Education information about grants and scholarships

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How to Create a Change or Growth Environment! 

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How to Create a Change or Growth Environment! 

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1. Create a community- when your students feel safe then they will want to be in your room to learn! Find ways to make a relationship with your student where they feel confident to ask for help or to make smart choices.

2. Encourage effort- do not just praise the ones who only succeed but those who also try! Students want to know when they are on the right path and when they should continue it. When students do not feel their effort is recognized or appreciated then they do not see the reason to try.

3. Encourage curiosity- students should feel safe to explore their interests without the fear of failing! Students are there to explore new topics and expand their knowledge. Spitting out information day after day in ununique ways will only result in a stall of growth with behavior issues mixed in.

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Growth is part of life, emotionally, physically, and academically. Education experts recommend regular measuring of students' growth and success in the classroom as a way of helping teachers know if their students are growing at the right place and in the right direction. On the student's part, having a growth mindset is critical to academic and lifelong success.

Besides providing your students with standardized testing after every semester or at the end of every school year, what else can you do as a teacher to aid your learners' growth in and outside the classroom? That is the question that this article seeks to answer.

Measuring Student Growth

Student growth is when learners can increase their intelligence levels, discover and grow their talents, and learn new skills and abilities consistently. It also means instilling a growth mindset so that they start believing in their abilities, rather than doubting their chances of developing over time. You will know that your students are growing in the right way when they start showing signs of being thirsty for new information. They will also start seeking out opportunities to tackle challenges and grow their skills.

Here are 5 ways through which you can inspire growth in your students:

1. Create Communities

Communities can be within a classroom, across grades, or between students who share common interests, such as a sports lover community. Educators can foster a community of equality that allows students to work together for a purpose bigger than their selfish interests. It gives kids a chance to belong and to have their voices heard. This will allow educators to monitor how students in the same community look after one another, how they appreciate the individual and collective effort, and how they create a conducive environment for sharing ideas. When that happens, the kids get smarter together and grow together and educators can know that they did a good job.

2. Instead of Praising Intelligence, Encourage Effort

Educators should encourage effort made and not the brilliance or intelligence of a student. Of course, some kids are born intelligent and will perform well in the classroom even when they behave badly and keep bad company. Praising them when they outscore everyone else can easily discourage their growth. Educators need to start complimenting students who outperform their previous attempts.

If a kid was struggling with a math concept last semester but has since improved, encourage them to keep pushing. That way, they will learn hard work and resilience, two important skills that will come in handy later in life. Also, remember not to dwell too much on past glory. Teach the learners to focus on their next step because that is the surest way of making progress.

3. Spend Purposeful Time Outside the Classroom

To ensure the physical and cognitive growth of your students, it is important that educators also insist on spending a purposeful time outside the classroom. This can be through fun outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, going on biking expeditions, or learning how to put together a camping tent. All of these activities can stimulate teamwork, a needed recreational time, and also gives your students the sense that their growth and learning is not tied down to the classroom as a physical object.

4. Encourage Time Management and Organization

Teach your students about the importance of prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively. Kids are easily distracted by peer pressure, TV, among others, but that will not be the case if they have a timetable to follow. Help them to organize their school work, how to spare time for homework or work out, and how to revise their notes. These organizational and time management skills will help them grow into responsible adults and great corporate managers.

4. Inspirational Posters

Anchor charts around the classroom as reminders of the importance of authentic learning and the need for developing a growth mindset. The charts should feature images, words, and phrases that inspire the kids to grow. Think of quotes from successful business leaders, stories of popular athletes, and even former students who overcame the same challenges your students are going through now. Let the kids know that in spite of the initial failures and struggles that many successful people have had to go through, they still made it in life thanks to their growth mindset and determination for a bigger change.

5. Encourage Curiosity

Being curious about something is what drives learners to find clarity and urgency in different aspects of life. Without it, it can never be created. It is through encouraging kids to ask you thought-provoking questions and allowing them to experiment on different hypotheses that they will get the motivation and purpose for designing something. A study suggests that students maintaining their curiosity is how they truly immerse themselves in their studies, and that's how growth happens.

You can encourage curiosity in the simplest ways possible. For instance, you can introduce the concept of seed germination and growth through a small indoor garnered project. Planting the seeds, taking care of them, and anticipating the moment they bloom can greatly encourage their curiosity. If your classroom doesn't get enough sunlight, you can ask your school to invest in some grow lights, that will not only compensate for the lack of natural light but will also speed up the entire process. This can make the curiosity-filled learning effective and time-efficient.

Conclusion: Aiding Student Growth

There are tons of inherent benefits of developing a growth mindset, both for kids and adults. As a teacher, you will only succeed in aiding your learners to grow by encouraging them to push through their comfort zones to grasp new concepts regardless of how tough they could be. Patient with them because effective learning is the key to learning and student growth that otherwise doesn't happen instantaneously.

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How to Aid Student Growth In and Outside the Classroom

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How to Aid Student Growth In and Outside the Classroom | Education

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Molly talks about how healthy development is made by adding different components! She focuses on different aspects we add into our classrooms like building connections with the kiddos around us with a simple discussion with no distractions can help facilitate growth in the students brains! This video is geared towards showing effects with a baby but it can be transformed to fit into our classroom with its core message.

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Molly Wright: How every child can thrive by five | TED