Carol Dweck did a thing. The author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success recently posted on edweek.org some clarification on the Growth Mindset. Go there right now and read it!
Have you read it yet?
Good!
Here is the basic idea: the Growth Mindset is more than just effort. Suppose I'm trying to dig a hole and use a plastic spoon, and I'm competing against someone with a shovel. Surely you wouldn't blindly praise my effort, especially when I'm not making any progress.
That being said, it's important to appreciate effort & praise learning. Show students how effort relates to learning. Encourage students to reflect on if they are fixed or growth mindset in different areas, but don't label them as "fixed".
My favorite quote from the article is "but the path to a growth mindset is a journey, not a proclamation."
She later continues with an amazing section for how to impart the growth mindset...
"How can we help educators adopt a deeper, true growth mindset, one that will show in their classroom practices? You may be surprised by my answer: Let’s legitimize the fixed mindset. Let’s acknowledge that (1) we’re all a mixture of fixed and growth mindsets, (2) we will probably always be, and (3) if we want to move closer to a growth mindset in our thoughts and practices, we need to stay in touch with our fixed-mindset thoughts and deeds."
Additionally, she looks at a more advanced "say this / not that" for continuing growth mindset.
What are your favorite parts of the article? Comment with what you learned!
I think this article shows the importance of not just praising effort. After reading this article, I have also found myself adding "yet" to the ends of sentences that I say to myself and that others say. I think saying "yet" catches people off guard and can make them think about how to have a growth mindset.
ReplyDeleteI think the figure at the end that you posted was very beneficial for me. I think it is helpful to be reminded of the things that students say that are fixed mindset, because sometimes you may not even notice it. Its helpful to compare it to what you could say instead, to remind us as mentors to look out for these things and encourage our students to adapt the growth mindset as well.
ReplyDeletenot sure why it says unknown but thats me maddy up there!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete