Second graders have been exploring the "dip" - the experience of feeling frustrated with a challenge, making mistakes or not improving, and wanting to give up or quit.  They built connections to times when they have gone through the dip, and considered how adults might experience the dip in their careers!  We learned that to get out of the dip, we need to reflect.  This means pausing to consider questions like "What mistake am I making?", "What can I do differently?", and "What can I do to make this better?"

At the end of out unit, second graders reflected on their learning over the past few weeks.  Here are some of their thoughts and connections:

Things I Learned:

• You don't have to be the best, you just do your best
• Being first isn't so important
• The dip is not easy, but it is not bad
• Everybody goes through the dip
• You can learn to love the dip!
• You might get nervous in the dip so you worry
• The dip is when you feel mad or sad and might want to quit
• Going in the dip is when you get stuck and do not know what to do 
• You can always reflect and improve from the dip

Connections I Made:

• The dip is like flexibility because you are trying different ways to get out
• I'm in the dip when I am in math and I get stuck on a problem
• I was in dance and I could not do the dance, so I got in the dip.  I practiced and then I did it.
• I was trying to tie my shoes and I got frustrated.  I kept trying and I got it!
• I feel scared when I'm in the dip
• I got out of the dip when I reflected about what I did wrong
• They show resilience because they bounce back and try again

This spring, Kindergarten students are working hard to become great problem solvers.  As they get ready to move on to 1st grade, we are working on skills to become more independent.  We are learning to figure out the size of our problems, so that we can make an expected choice about how to react.  Problems can be small (like a mouse!), medium (like a dog!), or big (like an elephant!).  

Small problems will usually go away if we just stay calm and act flexible.  For example, if we do not get to go first in a game, this is only a small problem.  If we think with a flexible brain and stay calm, we can still enjoy the game.  A medium problem needs to be solved.  If we spilled milk in the cafeteria, then we would need to clean it up.  Large problems are when someone is very hurt, or not safe.  For example, if a friend fell and was very hurt, then we would need to get an adult to help.

Often for our youngest students, small problems feel very large!  Talking with your child about the size of a problem can help them learn a sense of control over their feelings and actions.  For problems that require a solution, like friendship challenges, we can help them brainstorm possible choices and have them pick a solution that they like best.

In the fall, second grade students learned all about having a growth mindset - knowing that our brains are like a muscle, and get a little stronger each time we do something that challenges us.  Even though we can have a strong growth mindset and look forward to challenges, they are still difficult!  Not meeting a challenge right away can make us feel frustrated and want to quit.  When we feel this way, we are in The Dip!  Second grade students are watching a short video series developed by an educational resourced called ClassDojo which explains the concept of The Dip, and teaches us what to do when we feel like giving up.  Below you will find Episode 1!