English: Mistakes provide the next lesson.

Thanks to a Twitter item this morning, I read this article: The beauty of unfinished work. Here's a takeaway message from that article:

Mistakes provide the next lesson.

Looking for an image to use, I remembered a great one that Magistra Susan had found at Cheezburger. So, I made a poster with that one:

I really liked the Latin version that Susan had done, so I also animated that by adding an English translation; you can see more of her Latin growth mindset memes at her Cheezburger Board: Digital Magistra:

Conabor rursus cras.

I will try again tomorrow.

I like to learn. What's YOUR Superpower?

I like to learn.

What's YOUR superpower?

(Image from Flickr)

This cat was inspired by a graphic I saw at Twitter:

Stay focused and pay attention.

As the semester gets more hectic, it gets harder and harder to stay focused and pay attention. But growth requires awareness...and you have to keep aware!

The image is from cheezburger.

Stay focused and pay attention.

English: Difficult is not impossible.

Difficult is not impossible.

One of my favorite educators at Google+, Larry Ferlazzo, shared this funny little video which inspired today's growth cat: good kitty indeed!

Sometimes you might be tempted to take the easy way, and sometimes you might even think that difficult IS impossible... but you should try to see what you can do: maybe difficult is not impossible after all! The image is from cheezburger.

I'm learning as I go.

This cat was inspired by this article: 5 Tips For Taking Feedback Like a Champ by Megan Bruneau.

If this is the first time you've heard the term "self-compassion," it's important to clarify it's not about believing you're perfect or being complacent. It's about treating yourself as a great coach would--with realistic, flexible expectations that encourage growth--but also with kindness and the understanding that you're an imperfect human being who's programmed for learning as you go, not a robot programmed for perfection.

I'm learning as I go.

(cheezburger)

If you only focus on the problem...

A friend shared this cat at Google+, and it reminded me of the Un-Think cat which you can see here: To get unstuck, you must first unthink.

If you only focus on the problem,

you might miss

the easy solution.

Don't echo negative thoughts inside your head.

This cat was inspired by an article about the critical voices you might hear inside your head: Silence the Critical Voices in Your Head by Sabina Nawaz.

There’s one debilitating behavior that most of us fall victim to with great regularity: listening to critical voices in our heads. Whether they originate from external criticism or our own fears and doubts, these negative voices tell us we’re not good enough, kind enough, or productive enough. Research shows that echoing negative thoughts inside our heads increases our chances of depression, isolates us from others, and inhibits us from pursuing goals.

Don't echo negative thoughts inside your head.

(cheezburger)

English: To get unstuck, you must first unthink.

To get unstuck, you must first unthink.

The image comes from cheezburger, and the words are from Vidya Ananthanarayanan, a friend at Google+. Here is the graphic she made:

Stretch yourself and reach your goal.

For those who are making New Year's Resolutions:

Stretch yourself and reach your goal.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

Because I feel safe, I can learn from my mistakes.

Because I feel safe, I can learn from my mistakes.

(cheezburger)

The cat was inspired by this infographic: 2. If students know the classroom is a safe place to make mistakes, they are more likely to use feedback for learning. Complete transcript here.

Feedback helps you see the road ahead.

This cat was inspired by How To Give Students Specific Feedback That Actually Helps Them Learn by Justin Chando.

I’ve learned that great feedback creates a roadmap for students; it shows them how far they can go in the mastery of a subject or skill by outlining specific places for improvement or highlighting successful behaviors/techniques. Great feedback pushes students to achieve more and it’s specific in helping them do so.

Feedback helps you see the road ahead.

(cheezburger)

Learn from your mistakes ...and then move on.

Learn from your mistakes

...and then move on.

I found this graphic in an Edutopia article: 10 Things Every New Teacher Needs to Know.

Take a study break. You earned it.

Learning is hard work; you need to take an occasional break!

Take a study break. You earned it.

I am learning step by step.

The image of this cute kitten came from cheezburger.

I am learning step by step.

Ask me about what I'm learning!

This cat is inspired by the strategy presented in this article: The Difference Between Praise and Feedback by Anya Kamenetz.

In addition to assuring children of your continuous love and regard, “You want to understand what your child is thinking and feeling, to be respectful toward them. Asking questions is a far better idea than giving praise”—or criticism for that matter.  The idea is to support the development of a child’s autonomy by taking his perspective.

Ask me about what I'm learning!

(cheezburger)

Learn, and then share what you learned.

The infographic below inspired me to use cheezburger to make today's growth mindset cat:

Learn, and then share what you learned.

Thanks to this Twitter post from Mariana Funes, I found Sylvia Duckworth's wonderful Twitter flowchart: Should you use Twitter?

Take risks: go out on a limb!

This cat is not afraid to take risks! The image is from cheezburger.

Take risks: go out on a limb!

Big change begins with small steps.

Big change begins with small steps.

I started with this tweet and quote poster by Chris Duane:

I then used the words on this cheezburger image.

Grow!

I chose today's growth mindset cat in honor of a new institute at OU: The Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing.

The image is from cheezburger.

GROW!

Stay focused!

To learn and grow, you need to . . .

Stay focused!

The image is from cheezburger.