Growth Mindset

WHAT KIND OF MINDSET DO YOU HAVE?

WHAT DO YOU WHEN YOU STRUGGLE?

Are you OK with failure?

How easily do you give up?

Will you get up and try again?


Your answers to these questions reflect whether you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset.

At some point this semester you may “hit a wall”.

You’re struggling. Stuck. Confused. Frustrated.

If you quit, you have a Fixed Mindset. This is a recipe for failure.

If you don't quit, and you try one more time, maybe even over and over again, you have a Growth Mindset. This is a recipe for success.

How can you have a Growth Mindset? It's simple as believing that you CAN change, you CAN learn and CAN grow.

What does it look like to have a Growth Mindset? In other words, what can you do when you struggle?

  • X-ing out work that wasn't right and trying again (try not to erase)
  • Reviewing your first attempt for what looks right and what part you weren't 100% clear on
  • X-ing out part of your work that wasn't right and trying again
  • Circling part of your work that you think is not right, to look at again later
  • Trying a different method to solve the problem
  • Asking yourself, what part of this do I actually get? and what part am I confused on?
  • Asking a specific question, and then with feedback received, trying again
  • Reading your notes, and trying again
  • Re-reading your notes, and trying again
  • Highlighting your note, and trying again
  • Re-working a problem done in class on your own, looking at the work when/if you get stuck
  • Watching a video that goes through a similar problem, then trying again
  • Getting after school tutoring, then trying again
  • Accepting that there will be struggle, which means you will be trying problems more than once
  • Not making excuses for yourself
  • Never giving up when you struggle
  • TRYING
  • TRYING AGAIN

* notice that none of the above involve looking at your phone or putting your head down (i.e., giving up)


As a mathematician, I like to generalize things and not make exhaustive lists. To that end, the best answer to "What does it look like to have a Growth Mindset? " is this:

  • NEVER GIVING UP, NEVER QUITTING
  • DOING SOMETHING, ANYTHING THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE, AND THEN
  • TRYING AGAIN



As your teacher I believe that struggle is an important and normal part of learning.

I ask that you NOT quit. Try again. Don’t worry, I won’t let you stay stuck.

As your teacher I want your struggle to be productive. I want to help you learn math of course. But I really want to help you learn how to learn.

How will I do that?

  • I will call on all students to respond to questions. You don't have to know the answer. It's OK if you don't. Say what you know.
  • I will model how to “get curious” after a student answers incorrectly
  • I won’t praise students for being smart, but …
  • I will praise students for sticking with it and figuring out creative solutions
  • I will give you feedback but not always give you the answer
  • I will give informative feedback as much as possible, not just x’s and checks
  • I won’t always call on the student who knows the right answer
  • I will expect you to review your notes
  • I will ask you questions in response to your questions
  • I will expect you to talk to your classmates, helping them when you understand something and asking them questions when you don’t
  • I will celebrate your successes – not only good grades, but improvement as well
  • I will encourage a growth mindset


It is OK to make a mistake. Mistakes are encouraged. Why?

Because MISTAKES are:

  • EXPECTED
  • RESPECTED
  • INSPECTED
  • CORRECTED


MAKE IT HAPPEN

  • Make an Effort
  • Make No Excuses
  • Make Mistakes
  • Make it Happen