Building Confident Girls

Ms. Perkins' humorous nod to the upcoming testing

Today is Pajama Day as you can tell from the pics.  Students and staff really get into this Student Council bi-annual event and I must say, there does seem to be a more relaxed attitude in classrooms - a real treat given the upcoming STAAR testing next week.  Though we can't wear our pajamas everyday (no, we can't), I do know kids and adults are still getting the job of teaching and learning done and everyone seems just a tad bit happier on these special days.  Cool.  Long live Pajama Day!

Don't forget that next week, in addition to STAAR testing, we will celebrate LITE up Earth Week at HP! Our Scottie Green Team tells me LITE stands for Leadership, Initiative, and Teamwork for the Environment.  They have planned several activities we can all participate in at school (listed below), so mark your calendars and let's do our part in caring for Planet Earth!

-Styrofoam Recycling at HP will start on April 21.  The Green Team will take the styrofoam to     

  Ecology Action on Friday, April 25.

-Walk to school (remember every Friday is WOOF - Walk Over On Friday - biking counts too).

-Ask adults to turn off their cars when waiting at HP for drop-off or pick-up 

-Volunteer on Sat, April 26th from 10-12 to plant trees at Perry Park.  

Gavin presenting!

Yesterday, I was able to catch third grader Gavin giving a presentation to his Science Class on all things Crayfish.  Apparently, students have been studying these crustaceans - with live ones in class for a few days - and Gavin was so taken with the topic, he went home, did some research, put together a Power Point, then decided to present it to his class.  Way cool initiative on extending his own learning.  I always like to hear of students going above and beyond.  Keep it up!

One student explaining crayfish gender differences to me

Finally, also in Mr. Robenhorst's class, I was really heartened to see student teacher Stephanie Hawkins' display celebrating Women in History Month (noted throughout March).  Ms. Hawkins truly embraced the concept of explaining the work beyond the final product and incorporated some creative strategies within the teaching and learning. But I was most intrigued by the interviews students conducted with "women in their lives".  Mr. Robenhorst tells me that while students discovered some fascinating facts about their moms, teachers, aunts, and other women they knew, these students also were able to better understand the personal truths these women embrace. For me, this display also dovetailed nicely with a recent article in The Atlantic entitled The Confidence Gap (Claire Shipman & Katty Kay).  Though the article delved into the impacts of the male/female confidence gap in the workplace, I do think it also underscored the need for those of us who work with female students to recognize there is a gap and to further ensure we are fostering the supports needed to build confident girls...who (hopefully) will become confident women.  As "confidence matters as much as competence". 

Anything we can do as educators and parents to foster confidence in girls at a young age (and later age) we should be doing.  Participation in sports, academic competitions, rigorous instruction in math and sciences, applauding positive risk taking both in and out of school, and yes, access to and knowledge of positive female role models all help shape confident girls. Positive role models such as the women these students interviewed and others like our departing superintendent Dr. Carstarphen.  Girls need to see that strong women not only have the competence to get the job done, but yes, they also have the confidence to act and take those risks in their quest for the greater good. 

Thanks to Mr. Robenhorst for embracing these TEKS in his Social Studies classes and special thanks to Ms. Hawkins for also being another positive female role model to our students.  Girls Rock!

Audrey's interview answers