#Secret curriculum how to#

Somewhere behind Dorniden getting up was a teacher willing her on during the times when the easiest thing would be to give up.

#Secret curriculum how to#

When I watch her, I think that anything that is done so instinctively has been learned and worked on, and it is that attitude of mind - the willingness to focus on how to respond when things go wrong - that can make the difference. But I think that focuses too much on the final outcome - the winning of the race.įor me, the really interesting point is not how Dorniden managed to win (she was more determined, and clearly faster, than her fellow racers) but how quickly she picked herself up. Pupils talk about how Dorniden’s attitude is the perfect embodiment of the “never-say-die” mentality that can often make the difference between success and failure. I’ve shown it in class myself and most students are (understandably) impressed. The film is of the Big Ten Indoor Track Championships, and shows an athlete named Heather Dorniden going on to win a 600m race after falling over two-thirds of the way through. Many teachers wanting to illustrate the importance of resilience have turned to a particular clip on YouTube from 2008. Not only do these help prepare students for life after school but they can also promote a positive attitude while they’re in it, as well as improving academic performance. Now, however, there is a growing awareness of the importance of social and emotional skills. In the past, schools have been accused of focusing on academic skills to the exclusion of all else.