In the first episode of Growth over Grades, Dean Gainey, a transformative teacher, discusses the impact that teachers have in creating lifelong learners. He stresses the significance of leveraging our experiences and talents to engage and inspire our students while also highlighting the importance of understanding our students as unique individuals with multifaceted lives, instead of just as learners. He notes that forging authentic connections with students is pivotal in instilling a genuine passion for learning.

Lifelong Learning with Dene Gainey

Dean addresses the importance of a growth mindset for both students and teachers in education. He highlights that, when we remove the emphasis on grades, we also remove perceived limits to learning because there is no longer a finish line. In doing so, we empower our students with the agency they need to shape their own paths in life and strive to reach their full potential.

Listen, watch, or read the key takeaways below.

Episode Highlights

• 4:41 What are the greatest influences in your life that helped you as an educator?
• 10:39 What was the best/ worst thing about the 2021/ 2022 school year?
• 12:18 How do you showcase growth over grades?
• 16:11 How has technology impacted your teaching practice?
• 21:26 What is one piece of wisdom you’d like to share with other educators?

Key Takeaways

• Lean into who you are and prioritize connecting with your students. We can inspire our students to be their authentic selves and take risks in their learning when they see us for who we are as well.
• Take the emphasis off grades. This will foster a growth mindset in your students and set the foundation for them to become lifelong learners.
• Be flexible when you are teaching. Let your connection with your students guide your instruction.
• Embrace technology as a transformative way to engage and reach your students. Use it to augment learning experiences.
• Let your students lead. Create an environment that empowers them to want to lead and ensure that they have ample opportunity to practice and develop this quality.
• Dean offers a synopsis of his own teaching philosophy - CLIMBE
  • Cultivate - create a climate for learning.
  • Lead - model what good leadership looks like.
    Inspire - ignite curiosity and an intrinsic desire to learn.
  • Motivate - engage and excite your students.
  • Build - develop character.
  • Empower - nurture a growth mindset and the skillset to lead.

Looking to build community? Listen to S1E2 with Dr. Sarah Thomas.