Hello Everyone,
I recently found an amazing video by Khan Academy, which discusses each individual’s ability to learn anything.
I find this a refreshing alternative to telling children they can “be” anything they want; The idea of being anything promotes the feeling that intelligence is innate and fixed and does not require work to attain the goal. It sets students up for disappointment by letting them believe falsely they can achieve things that are physically impossible. For example, I cannot “be” a Radio City Rockette, since, at 5′ tall, I am six inches shorter than the minimum required height.
Conversely, if students are told they can learn anything, they have empowerment to overcome the challenges to reach their goals. Yes, reaching the goal of being a doctor will take a lot of hard work, yet insecurity in mathematical ability, for example, can be overcome so that student can handle the requirements of medical school.
Please watch the below video and show it to your students: