The Friday Mindset - Issue #41

February 11, 2022

The week ends at last. Phew. Before you pack your bag with marking we all know you're not going to do, just take a moment for yourself. You're worth it. Brew up, steal a Breakaway from the office staff and settle in for ten minutes of reflection at the end of a crazy week.

Here we go...

Something to try...

A very simple activity this week, but one we've found immensely useful.

It's just a picture, but it's generated some very helpful discussion in class. Exactly what does high effort look like, do we think? Students are asked to label this image:

They can write anything that springs to mind at the top but we like asking for:

  • an estimation of what high effort looks like in hours per week including homework (in your subject, or generally if you're with your tutees)

  • a list of the kind of things students do during classes when they're working this hard

  • a list of things students do immediately before or after classes when they're working this hard

  • a list of things students do in their study time when they're working this hard

Then we might work downwards - what does '3' look like? What does '1' look like? Finally, students make an honest estimation of where they currently are, and where they'd like to be by the end of the month. To finish, a written commitment to taking on one, two or three of the characteristics they've labelled as belonging to an effort level above theirs.

It's quick and simple but has impact! Hopefully you'll have a good 20 minute session out of it.

For teachers, here's Martin talking through an effort activity called Four Steps Forward that's linked to this activity too. Hope it's useful:

Martin demonstrates a simple effort activity from The GCSE Mindset

Something we're reading...

This week's paper has reminded us of how much emphasis we put on the word 'choice' when we work one-to-one with students.

'Effort is a choice' was one of those mantras we used so often kids would roll their eyes. One of the reasons we shared so much data about how hard students worked was because we wanted everyone to 'be able to make an informed choice about what levels of effort to put in.' If you don't know that year 13 Oxbridge applicants are working between 22-30 hours a week on their studies, how can you make a 'good choice' about your own effort? And during coaching conversations the phrase, 'talk me through the thinking behind that choice' is one we use all the time.

So we reckon 'choice' is a useful word. It emphasises agency and self-efficacy; that the locus of control is with the individual student, not the random madness of the external world. (Anyone who came along to the two sessions we ran on motivation might remember we looked at Deci and Ryan's work on intrinsic motivation and it's link with personal values, autonomy and self-direction.)

This paper, 'Born to Choose', explores the whole idea really well. It'll get you thinking about the extent to which we emphasise or suppress ideas of choice in educational settings. Enjoy:

Belief in one’s ability to exert control over the environment and to produce desired results is essential for an individual’s well being. It has been repeatedly argued that the perception of control is not only desirable, but it is likely ...

Our Latest Offer...

We have three guest passes for Masterclass to send out. Yeah, we're absolutely loving our Masterclass subscription - a birthday present - and it comes with a chance to give out a pass which gives another user a two-week period to check out the platform. We've got three of them... but they run out on the 11th - that's today! So we're going to send them to the first three people who want them.

Blimey - we hope that don't run out at midday or something, or this offer will fall flat on its face. Fingers crossed, eh? Get in touch at [email protected] if you want one. Go!

And that's it for this week, folks. A reminder that The A Level Mindset expanded edition is out - 8000 new words - so grab yourself a copy if you don't already have one.

We're off to drink ice-cold beers and eat novelty crisps. Have a good one,

Steve and Martin