 |
| Michael Jordan quote [Image]. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/253257179017778195/ |
The power of believing that you can improve [Video]. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en
Teaching about mindset is especially important as scientific evidence
demonstrates that an emphasis on intellect or talent leaves students fearful of
challenges and making mistakes (Dweck, 2007). Children who were praised
for their intelligence solved significantly fewer problems after a failure than
those children who were praised for their efforts, as demonstrated in this
image (Dweck, 2007).
 |
| Mindset 2012 NIU advising summit [Image]. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/StevenEstes/mindset-2012-niu-advising-summit |
When it comes to assessment, it is important that
teachers discuss within their feedback both the students’ competencies and their areas
for improvement (Drake et al., 2014). I know that in my experience as a
student, I always liked getting feedback that told me what I did well and what
I needed to do to improve so that I had something to strive for on my next
assessment. This table shows what teachers can do and how they can assess
students so they facilitate the development of a growth mindset.
 |
| McMillan, Helsten, & Klinger [Image]. (2010). Retrieved from Drake, Reid, & Kolohon (2014). |
Additionally, students perform better in school when they and their teachers
believe that intelligence is not fixed, but can be developed (Dweck, 2010). In
a study of 100 students in New York transitioning into grade 7, students’
mindsets were measured at the beginning of the school year. It was found that
students with a growth mindset outperformed their peers who had fixed mindsets
(Dweck, 2010). As a teacher candidate, I recognize the importance of teaching
students about a growth mindset as “it relates to the presence of failure and
perseverance” (Dweck, 2006) within the classroom. I have been lucky to have the
opportunity to observe some of the practical ways that educators incorporate teaching
about mindset into their programs. My mom, who is a primary teacher, began introducing
the topic of growth mindset by having her students build a house of cards.
 |
| Growth mindset [Photograph]. (2015). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/CNFKenollie/status/595252773236699136 |
This activity started a conversation about perseverance and
grit. By challenging the students with a difficult task, they had to problem solve
and think about different strategies to use so that they could be successful.
Another way to teach about mindset and differentiate between a growth mindset
and a fixed mindset is to create a list of statements and questions that reflect
what each mindset would sound like in a classroom setting (Dweck, 2006).
 |
| Sorting mindset statements [Photograph]. (2014). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/CNFKenollie/status/537709823203475458 |
Finally, teaching students about “The Power of Yet” is an
amazing way to get them to develop a growth mindset so that they believe that
their lives are filled with endless possibilities.
Sesame street: Janelle Monae - Power of yet [Video]. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLeUvZvuvAs
I
particularly like this video as it teaches students through song and makes the
topic relevant to their lives so that they can better understand the word “yet”.
 |
| The power of yet [Photograph]. (2015). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/CNFKenollie/status/644586155611176960 |
Recently, my mom created this board with her grade one
students about things that they can do and things that they “can’t do…yet” to
teach them about the power of “yet” by using examples from their lives.
Additionally, the math game “Brain Points,” developed by Carol Dweck and her colleagues,
rewards “yet” by giving rewards for effort, strategy, and progress rather than
when students get the right answer (Dweck, 2014). This game is a brilliant way
for students to use perseverance and problem solving strategies within the
classroom.
I
will conclude this blog on teaching students in a primary classroom about
growth mindset by stating that, as educators, we need to teach children to
understand the power of “yet” and know how to dream big dreams. We must create
a time where children live in a world FILLED with “YET”.
 |
| The power of yet [Image]. (2014). Retrieved from http://webenglish.se/power-yet/ |
References
Drake, S. M., Reid,
J. L., & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving
Curriculum and Classroom Assessment:
Engaging the 21st Century
Learner. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.
Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset:
The new psychology of success. Random
House.
Dweck, C. S. (2007).
The secret to raising smart kids. Scientific American Mind, 18(6), 36-43.
Dweck, C. S. (2010).
Mind-sets. Principal Leadership, 10(5), 26-29.
Dweck, C. S. (2014,
November). Carol Dweck: The power of believing you can improve [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en
Growth mindset
[Photograph]. (2015). Retrieved from https://twitter.com/CNFKenollie/status/595252773236699136
McMillan,
Helsten, & Klinger [Image]. (2010). Retrieved from Drake, Reid, &
Kolohon (2014).
Michael Jordan quote
[Image]. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/253257179017778195/
Mindset 2012 NIU
advising summit [Image]. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/StevenEstes/mindset-2012-niu-advising-summit
The power of yet
[Image]. (2014). Retrieved from http://webenglish.se/power-yet/
The power of yet
[Photograph]. (2015). Retrieved
from https://twitter.com/CNFKenollie/status/644586155611176960
Sesame Street [Sesame
Street]. (2014, September 10). Sesame
Street: Janelle Monae – Power of yet [Video
file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLeUvZvuvAs
Sorting mindset statements [Photograph]. (2014).
Retrieved from https://twitter.com/CNFKenollie/status/537709823203475458
I really enjoyed reading this post and found it to be informative and inspiring. Your blog definitely reflects your personality and it is clear to see that you put in the effort to help others understand this topic more easily. I can certainly relate to this post because I grew up with a fixed mindset. Ever since I was in elementary school, I would barely participate in classroom discussions or answer the teacher’s questions because I was always afraid of being wrong and embarrassing myself. I believe that it is critical for teachers to educate students on the growth mindset and I really liked the idea of the “house of cards” that you mentioned. I think it’d be a great opportunity for students, from an early age, to learn how to work together, build on each other’s strengths and help improve on weaknesses. I completely agree with you on the fact that teaching is all about inspiring students and we can help them reach their full potential by making them understand the power of “yet!”
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post Kelsey, it is very scholarly with your references and your pictures add an aesthetic appeal! I really enjoyed how your post touched on many aspects of growth mindset and how it can be used within the classroom. With the inclusion of different strategies your own mother uses in her own classroom to show her students the power of the word "yet" really strengthens your blog. I felt like I could learn from the examples you used that your mom uses in possibly use them in the future! In my own education I agree with you that being encouraged based on effort was always better in my opinion. However, many of my teachers did not use this and instead would praise those students who did the best or got the best grades. This is extremely harmful to students learning because as you mentioned if students are praised based on their intelligence they will begin to develop a fixed mindset instead of a growth. With teachers that wouldn't praise based on effort I felt as though someone was always better than me and eventually I would quit trying, with math for example, we were never praised for trying in math, but only for getting the right answers. I feel like this is such an essential aspect to teach future teachers so that we aren't bringing this mindset to our classrooms, and instead we should teach our students that failure is okay and that being the best isn't all that matters. A question I would ask would be as future teachers what is the best strategy to use when faced with a colleague, boss, parents, or even students that demonstrate a fixed mindset? Should we be active in trying to promote growth mindset even to our fellow coworkers who may not use it?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog entry about the growth mindset! It seems like such a small and simple concept but in reality it can have a monumental impact on a child’s trajectory in life and is something that I can’t recall ever hearing about in my own educational career until now. A fixed mindset is so dangerous for a young child to have while going through school because of the grading systems that are traditionally in place. You are graded strictly on your intelligence and a lot of times these grades can become a standard to which you hold yourself. Unfortunately sometimes these standards are not very high! If a child receives bad grades in certain subject areas they can begin to internalize the idea that they cannot succeed in this particular domain. This is dangerous because it can discourage children from being motivated to persevere and put in effort to improve. Students may never unlock their true potential or passions!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the way that I look back on my own educational career. I had a fixed mindset despite the fact that my mom always praised me for my efforts and intelligence because I always got high grades. My high grades were the exact problem though: as I progressed through school and began to receive lower grades in some subject areas like math and science, I felt self-conscience and defeated! This I began to adopt the view that: math and science just ‘aren’t my thing’. I gave up on trying to succeed in these courses and focused on my strengths like language arts, social science, art, and music. I have begun to wonder how things would have turned out if my teachers had worked to ingrain a growth mindset in myself at a young age. I believe I would have been more motivated to put effort into those areas where I found I was beginning to struggle.
Also I must say, you are so fortunate to have what sounds like a really awesome teacher as a mother and mentor for pedagogy! It sounds like she really makes a good effort to instill the growth mindset in her students in a multitude of ways and in ways that make it personal and meaningful to their own lives. Your mom employs some awesome ideas to get kids thinking in a growth mindset! I particularly like the activity that focuses on the power of ‘yet’ where they created a big list of all the things they can do and all the things they can’t do yet. This is such a great way to get the kids thinking positively about themselves and also thinking about their personal goals. I especially like that this is done collaboratively and in a way that can be put on display in the classroom as a constant reminder of these positive ideas. This is certainly an activity I would employ in my own classroom!