January ushers in a new year with the opportunity for a fresh start and renewed optimism in what we are able to achieve. Hopefully, the extended break provided time to re-energize and strengthen belief in one's abilities and talents.
Over the break, a few of us had the opportunity to visit OSU-Newark and spend time with learning specialist, Ferdinand Avila-Medina. Mr. Avila-Median described a variety of factors that contribute to and inhibit student success. What resounded most with me was that many students lack self-efficacy or the belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. One's sense of self-efficacy plays a major role in how one approaches goals, tasks, and challenges. Self-efficacy is the primary factor in how well students perform in college and in life.
Frequently educators grade students only on how well they accomplish tasks without challenging them and encouraging them to set and achieve goals. As teachers and parents, it is our responsibility to provide students not only the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in college, a career or the military; we must also help them develop a mindset of success. This happens when students are encouraged and challenged in the classroom.
When talking to your children or their teachers about achievement please focus on the process rather than the grade, that’s where learning takes place.
Please feel free to call or visit the building if you have any questions about what we do at Watkins Memorial High School
Michael Tanchevski
Principal
