Hi, I’m Mandy. I am married to Aaron. We have a beloved cat named Scout. I teach third grade at a local private school. A few of my favorite things are playing tennis, enjoying nature, spending time with loved ones, being outside, cooking, and playing games.
“I can’t tear out the math pages without them ripping.”
“My cursive letter ‘G’s look terrible.”
“I wish I could go back to second grade… this is too hard.”
I’ve heard a third grader share these statements too many times this year. Each one of them breaks my heart.
As a teacher, I desire to encourage, love, and help my students in any way that I can. For this particular student, I am seeing a very fixed mindset. An unwilling, stubborn attitude. A spirit that is defeated without even trying.
As I seek to provide encouragement and a growth mindset, I realize more and more that I see myself and my own thoughts in this student.
The truth is, we all think we are not capable of something. We all have struggles that we are trying to overcome.
As my class continues to grow this year, we are focusing on a GROWTH MINDSET. One that uses mistakes to provide learning opportunities, and one that looks at challenges and says, “We’re going to keep at it, believing that we can, and striving when we are not there… yet.”
“I can tear out math pages.”
“I can write cursive letter ‘G’s.”
“I can be in third grade.”
“I can cook dinner tonight.”
“I can take a shower.”
These students are capable of so many things.
I am capable of so many things.
You, my dear friend, are capable too.
— Mandy, 3rd grade teacher
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