By late October, the newness has worn off. The first-week energy is gone, routines that worked in September are slipping, and a class that once lined up eagerly now takes three reminders. Maybe a few students have gone quiet. Others are racing through every challenge and looking for more. If that sounds familiar, nothing is broken. Your class is telling you something. The middle of a season is the best time to stop, read the room, and adjust before small patterns become big o

Growth Mindset Training at Work, Summer 2026 "Confidence Camp" Shady Side Academy DASHSTROM PARENT RESOURCES As the 2026–2027 school year gets underway, we are thinking about the usual checklist: school supplies, schedules, new teachers, new sports seasons. But one of the most powerful tools we have for helping our children enjoy, thrive in, and push through the challenges of this year isn't on any supply list. It's the language we use every day, especially in the moments rig

There's a moment every coach lives for. It happens quietly, often mid-class, when a child who walked in with hunched shoulders and a shaky "I don't think I can do this" plants their feet, takes a breath, and says, "Okay. I will try my best." It doesn't always look dramatic. But for anyone who has witnessed it, it is one of the most powerful things a child can do. And one of the most important things a coach can help facilitate.