Arel Moodie, in his TED talk “The Secret to Student Success”, debunks several beliefs about what it takes to be successful.
Choose one point he makes that you could argue. Explain. Choose one point he makes that you definitely support. Explain. Give specific examples from your experience, if possible.
I had a hard time finding something to argue with, but the one thing that stands out is when Arel was saying he is not smart. He was very smart in the fact that he figured out what works for him. And it was through the effort that he put into his studies. He overcame his hardships and the demons that were telling him that he wasn't good enough. In my book, that is smart! We are going to come across students who are going to have that exact viewpoint of themselves that we can encourage and help them overcome and realize their worth. Effort is Everything. I firmly believe this statement. You can be the "smartest" person out there, but if you don't put forth effort, you will struggle and possibly fail. We can be the examples for our kids and we can also teach our kids about effort.
ReplyDeleteAs many have commented on, there are not really any points to disagree on. However, one point he makes that I could argue is the idea that anyone can succeed if they simply work hard enough. I agree that effort is extremely important, but I think there are still barriers that can make success harder for some students than others, such as lack of support at home, mental health struggles, or needing to work outside of school. I have taught students who have strong work ethics but are juggling sports, jobs, and family responsibilities. Even when they try their best, it can still be overwhelming. So while effort is key, I think access to support systems also plays a big role in success.
ReplyDeleteA point he makes that I definitely support is that students succeed most when they are actively engaged in what they are learning. When students feel connected to the material, they naturally want to try harder. I’ve noticed this in my own experience: in classes where the teacher makes learning interactive, through labs, projects, or discussions, it feels easier to stay motivated. I am a science teacher and try hard to include all of these options but could walk down the hallway to another science room where kids have disengaged with the conet as it is extremely boring But in classes that rely only on lectures or worksheets, it’s harder to care, even if the topic is important. Moodie’s point that “showing up and participating” leads to success feels true, because the more involved you are, the more you get out of the experience.
Support: Growth mindset is the way to success. This is something I used on the first day of school every year with all my students. We talked about the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset. We talked about the different ways of thinking, different ways of communicating with that thinking and how to be successful. This is something I referred back to and did activities with throughout the entire year and students always remembered.
ReplyDeleteArgue: Effort is everything. I agree with this to a point, but there is a part of it I don't agree with. Yes, a person can have all the talent and can be smart and if they don't apply themselves then it doesn't matter. But, a person can also not have much talent and not be very smart and put all the effort they have in and it can still not be enough for certain things. Even if they try their hardest and put in all the effort they can, they still might not be able to cut it (for certain things).
I agree with what Arel Moodie says regarding effort being more important than natural talent or intelligence when it comes to success. I also believe that having natural talent or intelligence combined with effort makes an naturally easier formula for reaching success. I appreciate how he shares that success isn’t reserved for the “smart” or the naturally gifted; it’s built through consistent effort and perseverance. I believe that as well. His story about putting his mind to succeeding in college and deciding to “outwork everybody” really resonates with me. It’s a reminder that determination, resilience, and the willingness to keep pushing forward can equate success. In my experience, I see students who may not be the most academically talented achieve incredible growth and accomplishments simply because they are willing to try, learn, and keep going despite the challenges they face.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me deeply sad to hear about the pain he felt when he thought he wasn’t smart or talented enough, to the point where he questioned his own life and even considered taking it. His father’s message, that we are given the problems we are meant to overcome, and that success is on the other side of effort, is so incredibly powerful. It reminds me how critical it is to support students emotionally, reinforce the growth mindset, and to help them see that their effort matters and can lead to outcomes they might not have ever dreamed of.
While I honestly don’t find much in his talk that I would disagree with, I would note that success and opportunities may look slightly different for some students depending on their home support, access to resources, and other circumstances they may face. Recognizing those differences is important, but the principle that effort drives success remains true. Lastly, I appreciate how he ends with the idea that we can create opportunities we didn’t know existed. This statement reinforces that success is not fixed, and persistence can open doors in ways we can’t always predict.
I am one of those people who put in a lot of time and effort in my studies. I would always re-read information and/or have my mom answer questions and study with me when she had time. I found that the constant review helped the information I was learning stay with me in a way that worked for me. My mom would use her time to help me become successful. I used this strategy at college, too. Writing labs, science labs, math labs all saw me at some point in time. I wanted to make sure I had the concept that I was to know and understand.
ReplyDeleteI was successful in music and used that success in the classroom. I LOVED playing the saxophone and would practice everyday. I remember getting to a point that I needed more lessons to continue my playing and my parents contacted a university and I was able to take lessons from a professor each week. I kept playing and learning. Although I never made All-State Band, it did not stop me from playing and in college I received first chair and continued my journey. I used this as a way to earn a music minor.
I agree that effort is a huge component in success but there are some students who can give all that they have and not be successful in some area due to lack of resources or support or other struggles they may have such as a learning disability, mental health concern or juggling many different classes, sports, job. I know that I had all the support from family, but would never have become a doctor no matter how much effort I put into it. My interest in science and math were not at the level needed and that is the reality. We can help students understand they need to work hard and persevere but it may not always lead to what they thought would happen and that means turn another direction and that is okay.
I so enjoyed this TED talk! I couldn't agree more with his message. I've been telling my students {and my kids} this for years. "Grades aren't about how smart you are, but rather about how much effort you give." 100% While intelligence plays a role, grades often reflect a student's willingness to follow instructions, manage time, and work consistently.
ReplyDeleteSome students are given a gift where they don't need to study as much. Other students have to study more. But it is knowing yourself and knowing which you are. As he says, "anything worth doing, takes time."
As others have said, it's hard to argue anything... but when he says "whether you're not good at it, with the right amount of effort, you become good at it..."
Effort is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for high level success. While effort is required to develop any skill, the ceiling of that skill is influenced by a lot of things that may beyond there control.
The point of his message "Effort is Everything", I both agree and dis agree on this point. I think you must have all three to achieve your goals and to be successful; you must be smart, talent, and putting forth the effort to become successful. In order to be successful in life you must have all three, but I think putting in the effort is the most important part of the formula. I think a person that wants to be successful must be somewhat smart and talented, but if they do not put the effort into success, they will never reach their goal in life. I know a lot of people who are smart enough to pass the test without doing the work and some others that the subject matter comes easy to them, but without the effort they will not be successful. In school I was never the smartest kid, nor even the most talented child, but if I wanted something in life I would work very hard on achieving the goal that I set in front of me.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I heard was that he was told that is not "smart". I absolutely disagree with this, and once again this brings up our social emotional well being of all of our students. A student should never be told this, we are there daily to provide a meaningful and rigorous education to each student. These harmful comments, as the speaker shared made him second guess his life. We as educators need to be mindful of our words and actions, as we see students struggling touching base with the school counselors, the families and administration to further look into supports available. I do agree with Effort is everything to an extent, Effort has the ability to show the students is engaged and trying to their ability. Effort shows progress, which as teachers recognize the student might not have mastery yet but they are working towards it. When effort is shown, it also shows willingness from the student to accept help whether the help be in class, or outside help with before school and lunch time RTI help and even after school help. We as educators are great examples for our students by showing up, providing additional creative ways to teach a lesson, recognizing when our students are struggling and acknowledging and providing supports, and being consistent.
ReplyDeleteArel Moodie, in his TED talk “The Secret to Student Success”, debunks several beliefs about what it takes to be successful.
ReplyDeleteChoose one point he makes that you could argue. Explain.
Having smarts and talents AND EFFORT are the people who tend to be the most successful. He didn't really touch on that point :)
Choose one point he makes that you definitely support. Explain. Give specific examples from your experience, if possible
Effort is everything! Absolutely true. It goes back to the "one more round" point. Also, there might be days, weeks, months, and even years before you stand back up after failures or set-backs. Mine was my parents divorce. I still haven't recovered from that one event when my dad sat me and my brother down to explain that he will no longer be living with us. I truly never have recovered from that event 55 years ago. I loved my dad and my mom, but he was an alcoholic - true and it was embarrassing at times, but he was also an amazing dad in so many regards. But life moves on and I've learned that - really, nobody cares about that and that I had to move forward and build my own life. Jesus made the difference in Jr. high for me. Turned me around and learned what love really is.
One point I would argue is the idea that if you simply work hard enough, you will succeed. While hard work is important, many other factors can affect a person’s opportunities and outcomes. Depending on things like socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexuality, religion, and access to resources can encounter barriers that make success more difficult for individuals. From my experience in education, I have seen how differences in resources, support systems, and opportunities can impact students’ learning and growth.
ReplyDeleteOne point I definitely support is the idea that a growth mindset contributes to success. When students believe they can improve through effort and practice, they are more willing to try new things and persist through challenges. In my classroom, I often see students develop confidence when they realize they can learn a skill over time, even if it is difficult at first. Encouraging a growth mindset helps students view mistakes as part of the learning process rather than something to fear.
ReplyDeleteArel Moodie, in his TED talk “The Secret to Student Success”, debunks several beliefs about what it takes to be successful.
Choose one point he makes that you could argue. Explain. Choose one point he makes that you definitely support. Explain. Give specific examples from your experience, if possible.
Argue- There really wasn't much that I can argue, because I really do believe in the growth mindset. In my school district we always try to add in the word "yet". The power of yet is so important. When a student says, " I can do this" your response can be, "No, you just aren't able to do it yet, but with practice and effort you can!". Really, I don't have anything to argue with in this video.
Definitely Support- You do not have to be smart to be successful. I completely agree with this! Honestly, I was never the smartest student in my class. I was a little above average. I was so nervous going to college, mainly because I didn't think I was smart enough for it. However, I had one professor that said on the first day of class, "it doesn't matter how smart you are. If you put in your best effort you will not fail this class". Oh boy, did he get my attention! I knew I was not the smartest, but I knew I could be the hardest worker! I worked so hard and passed his class with an A. I felt like from then on, in all of my classes, my mindset was changed. I kept telling myself to just work hard and I will be fine. I do think this is something that our students need to hear more of. I think a lot of students "don't feel smart", so they give up. They need to know that effort and hard work will carry them far. Sure, they may not be engineers when they get older, but I truly believe that if they want something bad enough, with hard work they can achieve it.
I didn't agree with him when he said he isn't smart or talented. I feel bad that he felt so low, to the point of thinking about ending his life to take the pain away that he was feeling. I agree that effort is a huge part of success, but depending on the situation, I feel that you need some talent and some knowledge (smarts) about what you're trying to achieve. I have worked with some students that put so much effort into their school work, and they just can't catch on to a concept, even after many attempts to differentiate instruction for them. But I do agree that you have to put effort into everything you do, to be successful. I do think that opportunities will arise for you to take advantage of, if you are intentionally seeking them. You can't give up, and you have to believe in yourself, and you will eventually see the possibilities of things you didn't even think were possible for you to achieve. I agree that a new big house and a nice new car isn't success. To me success is working hard, being the best person you can be, treating others with respect, facing your problems and asking for help, and always believing in yourself. Success isn't just making a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteEffort is everything…. Would be one that I would argue isn’t always the secret to a student’s success. There are students that are born with disabilities that are obstacles to their success and no matter how much effort they put forth, they may never be completely successful. For those students we need accommodations and modifications to help them maneuver the expectations in education and in many aspects of life.
ReplyDeleteOne point that he said that I would absolutely disagree with was that he when he was younger, he was told he was not smart. This is something I disagree with for many reasons, one being that no child should ever be told that in their lives. All students are smart. It's how we as educators can help support them and build them up each day to emphasize their knowledge. Another reason why I don't agree with this is because of where that led him with having those thoughts that he thought everything would be better if he wasn't here. Everything that we as educators say to students has an effect on them and they remember it. Talking down to students and telling them in some way or another that they're not enough contributes to our current social/emotional wellness issues that we are seeing with children in k-12 schools right now. Instead, we need to lift them up daily, provide them with a safe environment and show them we care and want them to succeed.
ReplyDeleteAn area that I agree with is when he stated that effort is everything, because it truly is. If we don't put forth effort in everything that we do, then we're not utilizing our strengths to our full capacity. If we put effort in as educators to tell our students to put forth 100% of their effort, then we will eventually start to see that portray throughout in the school. We may know that the students are capable, but we need to get them to believe in themselves that they are capable. That's why constantly teaching and showing them how to put forth our entire effort for tests, homework, sports, etc., can help them to grow and achieve other things in life.
Choose one point he makes that you could argue. Explain. Choose one point he makes that you definitely support.
ReplyDeleteOne point I strongly support is that a growth mindset can lead to success, and effort plays an important role in that process. I have a student who is very intelligent but often puts in little effort with his work. School has always come easily to him, but as the material becomes more challenging, he sometimes believes he cannot do certain things. We often talk about the importance of persistence and trying instead of giving up. I also remind him that asking questions and seeking help are important parts of learning.
I am not sure I agree with his statement that effort is everything. While effort is very important, I believe success comes from a combination of both effort and ability. Some students lack confidence and fear failure because they think mistakes mean they are not smart. I remind my students that mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow. Their ability is only a starting point, and improvement comes from the time and effort they put into their learning. I can help guide them, but I can't do it for them.
I agree with the Growth Mindset. I tell my students that we need to make Progress, not Perfection. And we need to make forward progress. I tell my students that we need to always try and grow. Often I review with my students all the progress we have made over this school year. Effort does sure make a difference, but sometimes it is not enough. Students see effort in different ways. For some students just showing up to school is effort, and for other students effort is being placed into advance classes. It is up to educators to show students what/how effort looks for each individual.
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