Building Learning Capacity: Why a Growth Mindset Matters

Building Learning Capacity: Why a Growth Mindset Matters

According to mindsetonline.com, a growth mindset is one in which "people believe their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work--brains and talent are just a starting point. Take a minute (yes, a full minute...I'll wait) and think about skills you've developed in your life.  Whether is was sports or theater as a younger child compared to when you were older, or even as an adult how much you've grown in the past 5 or 10 years.  Having a growth mindset is a key to adapting and changing as the world changes around you.

In a fixed mindset, "people believe their basic qualities, like intelligence and talent, are simply fixed traits...they believe talent alone determines success--without effort."  So, what do you think?  Which mindset do you believe you possess?  Most importantly, do you believe your mindset can change through learning about it, working at it, and being dedicated to changing?

Here in District 107, teaching our staff, parents, and ultimately our students about what it means to have a growth mindset is a component of our Strategic Blueprint.  Instead of focusing more on the philosophical components of mindset (you really should read the book Mindset by Stanford professor Carol Dweck), I want to instead focus on some practical ideas that I've found from mindworks.com for setting expectations when things are challenging and for providing feedback in a manner that promotes growth thinking.

For communicating a learning goal: 

New material is an opportunity for all of us to stretch our abilities!

Today, your brain will get stronger.

I want you to push yourselves to tackle this concept.

When you struggle despite strong effort:

What learning strategies are you using? How about trying some different ones?  

You are not there yet. or, When you think you can’t do it, remind yourself that you can’t do it yet.

Mistakes are welcome here! Our brains grow if we learn from our mistakes.

Yes it’s tough. If it were easy you wouldn’t be learning anything.

Let’s stop here and return tomorrow with a fresher brain.

I admire your persistence and I appreciate your mental effort. It will pay off.

When they are lacking specific skills needed for improvement:

Let me add new information to help you solve this.

Describe your process for completing this task.

Give it a try- we can always fix mistakes once I see where you are getting held up.

Let’s write a plan for practicing and learning.

If you make [these specific] changes, we can reassess your score. Let’s discuss a plan for you.  

When they are making progress:

Hey, do you realize how much progress you’ve made?

I can see a difference in this work compared to your earlier work. You have really grown with       .

I see you using your strategies/tools/notes/etc. Keep it up!

Your hard work is clearly evident in your process/project/essay/assignment.

Look at how much progress you’ve made so far! Do you remember how difficult this was when you first started.

There are many other phrases and ways to approach situations that will support a growth mindset. Learn more at mindsetworks.com.  

In closing, there has been much written about growth mindset, much positive and some calling it common sense. I'd challenge all of you to a very challenging task. I want you to try, even if you think you've learned all that you can know about growth mindset, to take some time to reflect and dive deeper into this important concept of growth mindset.