Soft Skills: the Undefined Curriculum

Description:

Work Ethic, Executive Function Skills, Growth Mindset: These are the skills that adults needs to be successful in the world. How do students learn them? Some seem to be born ready to go, but many need some guidance along the way. Learn how to weave these skills into your classroom for more successful students.

Learner Outcomes:

• Define soft skills and why they are important to teach in an already crowded curriculum.
• What do companies say about these skills and their importance for the employees they will hire?
• Participants will be introduced to several different individual programs and resources:
  •     Personal Accountability: John Miller
  •     Executive Function: Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
  •     Mindset: Carol Dewek
• Participants will see how these programs can be woven together for a more robust and extensive approach to soft skills.
• Classroom activities that have been developed to build and blend these ideas will be shared.
• Numerous resources will be shared.

References:

Miller, J. G. (2001). QBQ!: the question behind the question. Denver, CO: Denver Press.

Lindeen, K. E. (2010). I Own It! Building Character Through Personal Accountability.  Denver, CO: QBQ Inc.

Dawson, P., & Guare, R. (2009). Smart but scattered: the revolutionary "executive skills" approach to helping kids reach their potential. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Dweck, C. S. (2017). Mindset. London: Robinson, an imprint of Constable & Robinson Ltd.