When I first learned about the Growth Mindset, I was really taken a back by the science behind a philosphy teachers try to instill in their studnts. This summer I joined a book study at my new district and I learned how influential our words can be on people. I've spent the last 9 years teaching math in Champaign and taught a lot of struggling learners. Sometimes I've taught the same student 3 years in a row. I used to not be as sympathetic with my students and just tried to be the best teacher I could be to them and offer help and support. If that didn't work, I just chalked it off to being on them. After learning about the growth mindset, I shifted my language with my students. I tried to instill positive failure and am very careful about the language I use. I truly believe that when students believe that failing is not a bad thing and we can learn from it, and with the right attitude and work ethic, they can be successful. 

Above explains my philosophy and passion within the education world. When I first started teaching, I thought I was passionate about education technology and decided to go for my masters during my second year of teaching. Well that was about 8 years ago, and that passion has changed dramatically. Little of the technology tools I learned about then are relevant today. But my new passion is teacher leadership, specifically instructional coaching. I'm in the middle of the Teacher Leadership Specialization program here and I'm fortunate to have been hired at a new school as one of four new instructional coaches. This school also went 1:1 which chromebooks. This district is very technology orientated but within reach for my ability level. I just have a lot of learning and catching up to do. I have a learning curve. What makes me excited about this class is that I'm hoping it will give me tools and/or strategies to make me a more effective coach .