Comments on: To Raise Smart and Successful Children, Focus on Developing a Work Ethic http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/ Free Education for All Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:29:29 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: What’s trying have to do with anything? | Mr. Fuson's Page of English Enlightenment http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-5181 What’s trying have to do with anything? | Mr. Fuson's Page of English Enlightenment Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:39:28 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-5181 [...] according to my personal beliefs and this article at http:/openeducation.net, pretty much everything. This is a view I have long espoused to my [...] [...] according to my personal beliefs and this article at http:/openeducation.net, pretty much everything. This is a view I have long espoused to my [...]

]]> By: Mark http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-5179 Mark Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:38:32 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-5179 Loved the article! This is something I have been trying to instill in my students for some time. My honors stduents, in particular, have fought me long and hard on this idea. I have been out of the classroom this year to work for the Dept. of Education in my state, and I actually received an e-mail from a past student which made the fight worthwhile. Essentially, she stated that she missed getting B's in class because everything she was doing now was overly-simplified. Talk about bringing a tear to my eye! Loved the article! This is something I have been trying to instill in my students for some time. My honors stduents, in particular, have fought me long and hard on this idea.

I have been out of the classroom this year to work for the Dept. of Education in my state, and I actually received an e-mail from a past student which made the fight worthwhile. Essentially, she stated that she missed getting B’s in class because everything she was doing now was overly-simplified. Talk about bringing a tear to my eye!

]]> By: Becoming Succesful Requires Persistence - For All the Wrong Reasons - OpenEducation.net http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-5168 Becoming Succesful Requires Persistence - For All the Wrong Reasons - OpenEducation.net Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:11:25 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-5168 [...] a while back we relayed the latest research of Carol S. Dweck who has taken a lengthy look at raising successful children. [...] [...] a while back we relayed the latest research of Carol S. Dweck who has taken a lengthy look at raising successful children. [...]

]]> By: All World In One Site » Blog Archive » Is it better to be smart, resilient or hard working? http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-5140 All World In One Site » Blog Archive » Is it better to be smart, resilient or hard working? Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:46:16 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-5140 [...] of all three, and there’s a good discussion of this in today’s guest post at OpenEducation. It isn’t just about kids, though I strongly suggest you consider it in that [...] [...] of all three, and there’s a good discussion of this in today’s guest post at OpenEducation. It isn’t just about kids, though I strongly suggest you consider it in that [...]

]]> By: Online Education http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-4986 Online Education Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:59:48 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-4986 "The mistake? Too many parents tell their kids that they are smart. " - I almost fell off my chair when I read this. Not in disbelief, but total agreement. I have always been opposed to overly praising a child. I do believe children need support and reasonable praise but telling them they are intelligent will hurt them in many ways. My sonat 9 years of age had begun dealing with a divorced mother and father if that was not enough. His mother cooperated with the school he attended in letting him get out of assignments because he was "so smart". Rather than having to participate with the entire class he was allowed to go attend special duties to help teachers and other students. I strongly believe this contributed to him feeling he didn't have to do certain things that were asked of him later in his educational career. It hurt him in college and it hurt him in being humble enough to accept what he deemed as inferior jobs to support him through college. The elementary school systems need to demand the same from all students equally. “The mistake? Too many parents tell their kids that they are smart. ” – I almost fell off my chair when I read this. Not in disbelief, but total agreement. I have always been opposed to overly praising a child. I do believe children need support and reasonable praise but telling them they are intelligent will hurt them in many ways. My sonat 9 years of age had begun dealing with a divorced mother and father if that was not enough. His mother cooperated with the school he attended in letting him get out of assignments because he was “so smart”. Rather than having to participate with the entire class he was allowed to go attend special duties to help teachers and other students. I strongly believe this contributed to him feeling he didn’t have to do certain things that were asked of him later in his educational career. It hurt him in college and it hurt him in being humble enough to accept what he deemed as inferior jobs to support him through college. The elementary school systems need to demand the same from all students equally.

]]> By: Donklephant » Blog Archive » Looking to Raise Smart, Succesful Children? Teach Them a Work Ethic http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-3877 Donklephant » Blog Archive » Looking to Raise Smart, Succesful Children? Teach Them a Work Ethic Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:57:42 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-3877 [...] reading Smart, Successful Children at OpenEducation.net. This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 and is filed under [...] [...] reading Smart, Successful Children at OpenEducation.net. This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 and is filed under [...]

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-3184 Jeremy Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:55:29 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-3184 Although I have not been teaching for that long I see the value in Dweck's findings. My experience has shown me that generally students would prefer to do a simple worksheet over a project that involves critical thinking even though the later is seen as more exciting and engaging. Why is this? Because of continuous praise based on intelligence or other biological factors, given to students so that they feel good about themselves, we have fostered a generation of students with a "fixed mind-set." This is very troubling as a teacher because our world does not have a "fixed mind set" but instead our world requires individuals who embrace challenges and change and whom achieve through effort not by just showing up. Yet, as with everything, I believe there needs to be a balance since children also require a sense of self worth and a reasonable level of self-esteem in order to have the confidence to take on a challenge. When “you have nice printing,” is paired with, “it is nice to see you working hard to print so that your letters touch the top and bottom line” students get the benefit of both. Although I have not been teaching for that long I see the value in Dweck’s findings.
My experience has shown me that generally students would prefer to do a simple worksheet over a project that involves critical thinking even though the later is seen as more exciting and engaging.
Why is this? Because of continuous praise based on intelligence or other biological factors, given to students so that they feel good about themselves, we have fostered a generation of students with a “fixed mind-set.” This is very troubling as a teacher because our world does not have a “fixed mind set” but instead our world requires individuals who embrace challenges and change and whom achieve through effort not by just showing up.
Yet, as with everything, I believe there needs to be a balance since children also require a sense of self worth and a reasonable level of self-esteem in order to have the confidence to take on a challenge. When “you have nice printing,” is paired with, “it is nice to see you working hard to print so that your letters touch the top and bottom line” students get the benefit of both.

]]> By: Homework & News » The Secret to Raising Smart Kids http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-2888 Homework & News » The Secret to Raising Smart Kids Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:39:16 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-2888 [...] Tom Hanson, the editor of openeducation.net, informing me of his discussion regarding this topic. I encourage you to take a look at it as it helps summarize the original work. Tom Hanson Editor [...] [...] Tom Hanson, the editor of openeducation.net, informing me of his discussion regarding this topic. I encourage you to take a look at it as it helps summarize the original work. Tom Hanson Editor [...]

]]> By: JP http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-2757 JP Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:56:00 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-2757 I think your last sentence says it all. Praise is important, but only if used correctly. It wouldn't be good to have two extremes: constant praise and constant put-downs. Failing is such an important activity, but it's also important to take risks in order to fail. If my parents constantly put me down, then I'd probably take less risks to make sure I can achieve something. However, it may not result in significant improvement. I feel like there's a lot more to this topic that a simple comment can't address (re: praise, risk, encouragement, etc). I think parents really have a juggling act and as your post says, praise needs to be done in appropriate situations. I think your last sentence says it all. Praise is important, but only if used correctly. It wouldn’t be good to have two extremes: constant praise and constant put-downs. Failing is such an important activity, but it’s also important to take risks in order to fail. If my parents constantly put me down, then I’d probably take less risks to make sure I can achieve something. However, it may not result in significant improvement. I feel like there’s a lot more to this topic that a simple comment can’t address (re: praise, risk, encouragement, etc).

I think parents really have a juggling act and as your post says, praise needs to be done in appropriate situations.

]]> By: Is it better to be smart, resilient or hard working? | Business is Personal http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/12/to-raise-smart-and-successful-children-focus-on-developing-a-work-ethic/comment-page-1/#comment-2753 Is it better to be smart, resilient or hard working? | Business is Personal Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:42:57 +0000 http://www.openeducation.net/?p=294#comment-2753 [...] of all three, and there’s a good discussion of this in today’s guest post at OpenEducation. It isn’t just about kids, though I strongly suggest you consider it in that [...] [...] of all three, and there’s a good discussion of this in today’s guest post at OpenEducation. It isn’t just about kids, though I strongly suggest you consider it in that [...]

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