The Power of Mindsets and Relationships: Nurturing Motivation and Resilience in Students

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The Power of Mindsets and Relationships
Nurturing Motivation and Resilience in Students

• www.drrobertbrooks.com
• contact_at_drrobertbrooks.com

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The power of mindsets

• Mindsets The assumptions and expectations we
  have for ourselves and others that guide our
  behavior
• What is the mindset of educators who touch both
  the hearts and minds of students, nurturing
  motivation, learning, and resilience? Do we
  identify and discuss this mindset at staff
  meetings?

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Features of a positive mindset

• To believe in the capacity of students to become
  more hopeful and resilient To believe we can
  serve as a charismatic adult
• I want to be a charismatic adult. What do I do?

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Features of a positive mindset

• To believe that all children from birth want to
  learn and be successful
• To believe that all students are motivated, but
  unfortunately, some are dominated by avoidance
  motivation as a way of protecting themselves
  from situations that they believe will lead to
  failure and humiliation.

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Features of a positive mindset

• At times we must think outside the box if we are
  to improve relationships with students and apply
  strategies that will minimize avoidance motivation

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Features of a positive mindset

• To create motivating environments that nurture
  intrinsic motivation, learning, and resilience
  Decis focus on basic needs that apply to
  administrators, staff, and students
• 1. The need to belong and feel connected (and
  lets add the word welcome) When any member of
  the school environment feels alienated, learning
  and achievement will be compromised and anger and
  resentment will become dominant features

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• 2. The need for self-determination and autonomy,
  which are significant features of a sense of
  intrinsic motivation, ownership, and resilience
• a. What kind of choices and decisions do we
  provide staff and students?
• b. Do our disciplinary practices promote
  self-discipline and self-control as well as
  nurturing a safe environment ?

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• 3. The need to feel competent To identify,
  reinforce, and display each youngsters islands
  of competence--We must adopt a strength-based
  model if we are to nurture motivation and
  resilience
• a. Do we provide students with an opportunity
  to contribute to and make a positive
  difference in their environment?
• b. Do we foster the attitude that mistakes
  are experiences from which to learn?