Risk Taking

Risk Taking

• "To push beyond the obvious and reach towards a richer conception of a topic or a broader set of opinions or ideas." -Colleagues at Harvard University

The "Kid" Definition

• Risk Taking: Being able to try something new or different in the classroom, despite discomfort or fear of failure.

How to do it?...

• Model Risk-Taking
• Be Willing to Fail
• Praise Wisely ("process praise")
• Transform the meaning of "difficult" and "effort"
• Don't stigmatize mistakes

"The Power of Yet" by Carol Dweck

Activity

• Having students practice creativity in their work is a good way to encourage risk-taking

Activity

• In a lesson on phonics/language, students will create a new "language" with a partner
• They must come up with words, phrases, or actions for a set of basic greetings
• They will create this in pairs and then practice as a class and attempt to communicate as a whole class
• Whole class will debrief after

Initiative

Initiative

• Doing something without having to be asked to do it
• Example: doing your chores or going the extra mile to help someone

What the researchers say...

• Erik Erikson: Initiative v. guilt (stage 3) when a child begins to make decisions, use imagination and creativity
• Children are encouraged to lead others and make desicions

How to do it...

• Allow students opportunities to make desicions in their learning
• Facilitate opportunities for students to be leaders

Activity

• In small groups, students research one aspect of citizenship
• In groups they will create an activity for the class to emphasize this concept