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Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away

Tuesday, February 6th, 2024

Quit

Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke

goes beyond winners never quit to winners quit a lot. Everyone should read this to avoid sticking with goals that become no longer worthwhile. Grit can help you reach worthwhile goals, but it can also help you stick with goals that are no longer have positive expected value. Every school should have a copy in its professional development library.

Prologue: The Gifted Scale

Success lies in picking the right things to stick to and quitting the rest. Just because you stubbornly stick to something doesn’t mean you will succeed at it. Unfortunately, quitting almost uniformly has negative implications, while being gritty and staying with something is considered in a positive light. The science of quitting spans disciplines from economics to game theory to behavioral psychology.

Section I: The Case for Quitting

1. The Opposite of a Great Virtue is also a Great Virtue

On Mt. Everest, there is a quitting plan. It goes if you haven’t reached your goal, the summit or a camp higher up, by 1:00 pm, turn around. Over the years, people who have ignored this plan have been much more likely to die, as you are eight times more likely to die on the way down. In Silicon Valley, the motto is Fail Fast. Since most projects fail, knowing when to quit is key in terns of conserving resources.
Luck often plays a big part in success. When we make a decision, we usually don’t have all the information we need. As we move forward after making a decision, we need to be constantly on the lookout for new information. As new information arrives, be sure to analyze it as it may point toward quitting or changing course. Once you quit, you won’t know what would have happened if you didn’t. You need to be ok with that. In poker, this is like folding hands that would have won. This is why pros play about half as many hands (15-25%) as amateurs (50%).

2. Quitting on Time Usually Feels Like Quitting Too Early

We start with an owner of a computer game that appears to be successful as he’s adding players at 7% a week. When he sees that new players are much less likely to stick, he can see it will be a money pit and quits. The key concept here is to calculate expected future value be it a function of money, happiness, or anything else. This requires some mental time travel. This involves educated guesses and thinking like a poker player.
You also need to look for clues from the past, be it your past or someone else’s. When a decision to quit is near 50-50, quitting is more likely the best choice. This includes big life decisions. If you are unhappy in a situation, you are likely to be unhappy in the future. This should make quitting an easy decision. Many athletes and TV shows have lingered too long. Those that went out on top are usually thought to have quit too soon. They didn’t.

3. Should I Stay or Should I Go

Studies of cab drivers show that they generally use the wrong heuristic for deciding how long to drive. Most drive until they have reached an income goal. That means that they often stop when conditions are good and keep driving longer shifts when conditions are poor. Experienced cab drivers tend to do better. They seem to understand the concept of expected gain.
The same is not true for professional stock traders. While they tend to make good buying decisions as they have studied the assets they are buying, their sell decisions are not as good. These people usually sell something to free up money for things they want to buy. What they sell tends to be either stocks that have gained the most or lost the most. They are not doing expected gain analysis. What they should also do is follow the sold stocks closely to get feedback on their decisions. Most don’t.
For most decisions we make, feedback is hard to come by. If you change majors, colleges, or jobs, all you have is what if questions. We also tend to have a greater negative emotional impact for losses than positive emotions for gains. This loss aversion creates a preference for options associated with a lower chance of loss.

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Your Chosen Future: Identify the Ideal School Environment After Relocating

Friday, January 19th, 2024

Children
Your Chosen Future: Identify the Ideal School Environment After Relocating by Emily Graham gives you the insights to make the best choices for your child’s future.

Your Chosen Future: How to Identify the Ideal School Environment After Relocating by Emily Graham

Relocating can be a whirlwind of emotions and tasks, and among the most crucial is ensuring your child’s continued educational and developmental success. Speaking directly to you, this guide from Dr. Doug Green aims to simplify this often-overwhelming process. Embrace this journey confidently, knowing you have the insights to make the best choices for your child’s future.

Prioritizing Individual Attention

Regarding early education, your child’s level of individual care is paramount. Schools and daycares where educators can devote more time to each child often provide a more nurturing and effective learning environment. This focused attention enhances educational outcomes and fosters a stronger emotional and social connection between teacher and student.

Tailoring to Your Child’s Unique Blueprint

Your child is wonderfully unique, with specific needs, interests, and a learning style all their own. Finding an educational setting that recognizes, celebrates, and caters to these individual traits is essential. Institutions that offer a variety of programs or specialized approaches can be especially beneficial in nurturing your child’s specific talents and interests.

Aligning with Educational Values

Understanding the curriculum and educational philosophy of a potential school or daycare is critical. This alignment ensures that your chosen institution meets and exceeds your expectations for your child’s education. Whether focusing on STEM, arts, language immersion, or a specific educational philosophy like Montessori or Waldorf, the right fit will resonate with your family’s educational values.

The Intersection of Home and School

Your living location significantly impacts your school or daycare options. Investing time in researching neighborhoods with reputable schools can pay dividends in your child’s educational journey. Utilize online resources to understand the local real estate market, school districts, and the associated home prices. This dual approach of house hunting and school searching ensures a harmonious balance between your living situation and your child’s educational environment.

The Power of Personal Visits

There’s no substitute for experiencing a school or daycare environment firsthand. Personal visits offer invaluable insights into the daily operations, the demeanor of staff and students, and the overall atmosphere. Observing interactions, asking questions, and witnessing the school culture in action provides a clear and tangible sense of whether it’s the right place for your child.

Early Bird Advantage

Starting your search well in advance of your move is a strategic advantage. This early initiation allows for thorough research, contemplation, and decision-making without the pressure of looming deadlines.

Early planning also allows you to be on waiting lists if necessary, ensuring that you don’t miss out on preferred institutions due to time constraints. Additionally, this proactive approach enables you to align your family’s schedule and logistics with the school’s calendar, helping smooth the transition for your child and the rest of your family.

The Hallmark of Excellence: Accreditation

Accreditation is a benchmark for quality in education. Schools and daycares that have earned this recognition have met rigorous standards, which offers reassurance of their commitment to excellence. Reading reviews from other parents can also provide honest and invaluable insights into these institutions’ reputations and real-world performance.
Moreover, engaging with local community forums or social media groups where current parents discuss their experiences can give you a deeper, more nuanced understanding of each school’s culture and community. Needless today, this can help you make a well-informed decision.

Final Thoughts

As you embark on this crucial chapter of finding a new home and the perfect educational setting for your child, remember that this journey is about creating a harmonious balance between where you live and where your child learns and grows. With careful planning, research, and a clear understanding of your child’s needs, you can make informed decisions that will positively shape their future. And that’s all you can ask of yourself!

Would you like to read more helpful content or learn about my consulting services? Visit DrDougGreen.com today!

Emily Graham
Emily is the creator of MightyMoms.net. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms — from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. You can email her at emilygraham@mightymoms.net. She lives in Arizona.

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Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics

Monday, January 15th, 2024

$Thinking Classrooms$
Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics Grades K-12: 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning by Peter Liljedahl offers a whole new way to teach math that gets students thinking rather than mimicking the teacher’s sample problems. The vast research Peter did to discover his new methods is impressive as are student results. Consider having all of your math teachers read this summary and discuss it at a department meeting. Then give each a copy of this trailblazing book.

Introduction

After observing 40 math teachers in 40 schools, Peter discovered that their practices were pretty much the same and that students spent little or no time doing the right kind of thinking. Unfortunately, the resources and textbooks available facilitated this non-thinking practice, which means that the problem is systemic. He also found that institutional norms were enabling this behavior.
Over the course of 15 years, Peter and his crew of 400 teachers in teams of 8 to 18 worked on the 14 factors that impact thinking. The factors are represented by the titles of chapters 1 though 14 if you want to know what they are now. In each case they looked at the common norm and tried to do just the opposite. After a lot of trial and error they found the optimal approaches described here. If you want to try their practices, implement chapters 1-3 at the same time. Then you can implement the remaining practices one at a time.

1. What Types of Tasks We Use In a Thinking Classroom

Problem solving is when we do what we don’t know how to do. It is not the implementation of a well taught algorithm. Students will get stuck, do some thinking, and get unstuck. Routine tasks involve mimicking, which is not thinking. There are examples of tasks here that require thinking. They can be considered non-curricular tasks that do not map nicely to a list of outcomes or standards. Before you can get kids to think about the curriculum, you need to get them to think.
There are three kinds of lessons. 1 Non-Curricular tasks 2 Scripted Curricular Tasks and 3 Circular tasks. The later just involve mimicking what the teacher does. Scripted curricular tasks asks the students to solve a problem before showing them how to do it. Start by reviewing prior knowledge and then ask a question that will extend prior knowledge. While you can just give non-curricular tasks and let the curriculum take care of itself, using them to prime thinking before switching to scripted curricular tasks is way better than type 3 teaching.

2. How We Form Collaborative Groups In a Thinking Classroom

Student collaboration is important and can have a powerful impact on Thinking. Peter’s extensive research indicates that random groups perform much better than self-selected groups. The groups must be visibly random. That means the students can see that the teacher hasn’t rigged the grouping. Peter uses playing cards to do this as students seem to like picking cards.
In grades K-2 use two students per group. From grades three on up use three in each group. Randomness will lead to more diversity in groups and shy students will profit the most socially. Don’t worry if your groups are porous, which means that they collaborate with each other. In secondary schools form new groups at the beginning of each class. In elementary schools form new groups after lunch and recess.

3. Where Students Work In a Thinking Classroom

Peter’s research shows that for best results, student groups should be standing and writing on erasable surfaces. He prefers white boards, but blackboards, windows, or surfaces found in home improvement stores should work fine. You may have to retrofit your classroom, but it can be done inexpensively. The erasable surface encourages students to take more risks and standing features better posture.
Only give one marker to each group and make sure the teacher has a different color so anything the teacher does write stands out. You want each member to do some writing and Peter suggests ways to encourage this. Groups should be able to see what neighboring groups are doing.

4. How We Arrange the Furniture In a Thinking Classroom

Too much order or symmetry does not make for a relaxed atmosphere. The best results happen in classrooms where desks or tables face in different directions and there is no obvious front of the room. Move the teacher’s desk somewhere near the back and eliminate any furniture you don’t need. This will give groups standing around the perimeter more room.
The teacher should move around to reinforce the idea that the room has no front. This will promote more student collaboration and less teacher talk. Turn off projectors or interactive white boards when not it use and don’t stand next to them when they are on. Get three inexpensive clocks so there is one on each wall.

5. How We Answer Questions In a Thinking Classroom

There are three types of questions. 1. Proximity Questions are asked when the teacher is next to the student. They are usually 2. Stop-Thinking Questions. These questions ask if this is right or do we have to learn this? If you answer them they can stop thinking. The third type are 3. Keep-Thinking Questions. They are asked so that students can keep thinking. They might be clarification questions or questions about going farther with a task.
The only questions you should answer are keep-thinking questions. When students ask the other types you can smile and walk away or tell them that you have confidence that they can answer the question themselves. You can also respond with questions like isn’t that interesting or show me how you did that? You can explain what you are doing to students after a week or two. You should let the parents know at the beginning.

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From Messy to Manageable: How to Organize Your Teaching Life

Monday, January 8th, 2024

Student

From Messy to Manageable: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing Your Teaching Life by Emily Graham

Teaching is more than a profession — it’s a calling. It’s a job that requires passionate individuals who are willing to go above and beyond to ensure that their students receive the best possible education. But with ever-increasing responsibilities and workloads, teachers can often find themselves struggling to stay organized. In this article, Dr. Doug Green provides valuable advice and guidance from Emily Graham that you can implement to get and stay organized.

Individualized Attention for Student

Each student has their strengths and areas of opportunity. Keeping detailed records of each student’s needs, progress, and goals is an excellent way to track progress and ensure that they’re receiving the individualized attention they require. Have a specific plan for each student, and prioritize your time with them based on their needs. Whether it’s extra help, behavior modification, or academic support, regular check-ins can go a long way in boosting student success.

Use Organizational Techniques

One of the most effective ways to stay organized is by implementing organizational strategies that work best for you. Some ideas include using a color-coded filing system, setting reminders on your calendar, and keeping everything in its designated place. Take some time to assess your current organization system, and identify areas where you can improve. Maybe it’s creating a to-do list for each day, week, or month, or using a planner to track assignments and deadlines. Whatever strategy you choose, make sure it’s tailored to your specific needs and allows you to maintain focus and efficiency.

Online PDF Tools

Digitizing paper records is an excellent way to save space and stay organized; however, it can be time-consuming and frustrating to remove unnecessary pages. Using an online PDF page remover tool takes a fraction of the time and makes the process effortless — click for info. With just a few clicks, you can delete pages, merge, and rearrange documents, all within a matter of minutes.

Effective Lesson Plan Tracking

As teachers, we’re always looking for ways to >improve and enhance our teaching strategies

Make Your Classroom Interesting

A well-designed classroom creates a comfortable and welcoming environment that fosters learning and engagement. Choose colors, decor, posters, and other elements that align with your personality and teaching style. Display student work and educational posters that spark curiosity and interest. Provide students with easy access to necessary supplies such as pencils, paper, and calculators. A thoughtfully designed classroom creates an environment that promotes learning, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Implement Good Classroom Management

Effective classroom management is essential to promoting a positive and productive learning environment. Establish clear behavior expectations and follow through with appropriate consequences when necessary. Monitor student behavior and provide feedback and support to students who are struggling. Encourage open communication, active listening, and positive reinforcement to enhance student behavior and motivation. Effective classroom management sets the foundation for a successful and positive learning environment.

Make Efforts to Achieve Your SMART Goals

Setting SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) is a powerful way to stay organized and focused. Whether it’s personal or professional, set goals that align with your long-term aspirations and use them as a roadmap to success. Create a plan of action with specific details on how you’ll achieve your goals. Be sure to track your progress and adjust your goals as needed. Setting SMART goals will help you stay organized, focused, and motivated.

To achieve success as a teacher, being organized is not an option but a necessity. Implementing strategies such as tracking individual student needs, utilizing online tools to save time, and setting SMART goals can help in maintaining an efficient system. This way, teachers can achieve their objectives, help their students succeed, and enjoy a more fulfilling teaching experience.

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Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer

Friday, November 24th, 2023

Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer offers actionable advice for anyone who suffers from anxiety. There is also a free app available that can further help make your life less stressful. Learn how you can use curiosity and kindness to your advantage. While I don’t suffer from anxiety, I know many people who do. If you are anxious, you need this book. It also makes a great gift for anxious friends and family. Thanks, Jud.

Introduction

Judson has MD and PhD degrees which took eight years to complete. He then went on to a career as a psychiatrist doing research on anxiety. He found that anxiety is in and of itself a harmful habit. It hides in peoples’ bad habits and feeds other behaviors. When he realized this, due in part to his own panic attacks as a student, he was determined to “science the hell out of it,” to cite a Matt Damon quote from The Martian. During the last decade, his research has lead to excellent results in helping people quit smoking, overeating, and other bad habits with the help of smartphone apps. This book is intended to be a useful pragmatic guide to changing how you understand anxiety so that you can work with it effectively, and as a bonus, break your unhelpful habits and addictions.

Part 0 Understanding Your Mind: The Psychology and Neuroscience of Anxiety

1. Anxiety Goes Viral

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is experienced by people who generally worry throughout the day. This usually results in poor sleeping habits. Other symptoms include edginess, restlessness, tiring easily, impaired concentration, irritability, and increased muscle aches. Specific phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder also fall under anxiety diagnoses.
Anxious parents are likely to have anxious kids. Uncertainty and lack of structure cause anxiety for many. It is tricky to diagnose as most people experience it to some degree. Worries about health, safety, finances, politics, and relationships are the top sources. COVID-19 has certainly added to our collective stress. People with GAD usually also suffer from depression or something else.

2. The Birth of Anxiety

Anxiety and its close cousin panic are both born from fear. Ironically, fear’s main evolutionary function is helping us survive. Being afraid of dangerous situations and doing something about it is a good thing. The pre-frontal cortex (PFC) portion of our brain is where future scenarios get played out. It thinks slower than the reflexive part of our brain. When it doesn’t have enough information to predict the future it may start working on worst-case scenarios causing anxiety.
Fear is an adaptive learning mechanism. Anxiety is maladaptive. Fear + Uncertainly = Anxiety. Without past experience or accurate information, it’s easy to turn on the worry switch. This is why fake news, which travels faster than real news, promotes anxiety. Our news media is more likely to give us stories that feed our anxiety than those that make us feel good. (Doug: If the news you watch makes you anxious, consider not watching it.) Anxiety is also contagious. Knowing this and that uncertainty triggers anxiety can help put you more at ease. It is possible to replace old habits like worry with habits that are more rewarding so stay tuned.

3. Habits and Everyday Addictions

Most of us are addicted to something as addictions are not limited to things like hard drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Compulsive behaviors like shopping and overeating also fall into this category. Our modern world has increased the likelihood of addictive habits as just about anything is much more available. The goal of the media is to increase clicks and eyeballs. Therefore they design not to inform, but to create addictive experiences. This starts with a Trigger, which is a thought or emotion. Next comes a Behavior like worrying. Finally, we have a Result or Reward such as avoidance or overplanning. Reinforcements and immediate availability are a dangerous formula for modern-day habits and addictions. This is how our brains work and this is important knowledge.

4. Anxiety as a Habit Loop

Anxiety can act as a trigger that leads to the behavior of worrying. The result of this behavior can be feeling more anxious. That is the loop or cycle. While worrying usually doesn’t work, this doesn’t stop our brain from trying it again and again. Being aware of this is a good place to start. Judson and his team developed an app (Unwinding Anxiety) that they use to teach mindfulness to the subjects of their research. You can get a free trial or pay for the complete program. They used this app on doctors who do not get training on how to handle their emotions in medical school and found success with 63% of their subjects. First, you need to map out your anxiety. Then you tap into your brain’s reward system before you tap into your own neural capacities to step away from anxiety-producing habits.

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