growth mindset

          This year we are going to focus on instilling a growth mindset in our students.  A growth mindset is a "belief system that suggest that one's intelligence can be grown or developed with persistence, effort and a focus on learning." Unfortunately, many students begin to have a fixed mindset as they progress through school, which is a "belief system that suggests that a person has a predetermined amount of intelligence, skills, or talents." 

          According to Mindset in the Classroom by Mary Cay Ricci, when students enter kindergarten, they have a 100% growth mindset, believing they can learn anything.  However, as they get older, their growth mindset begins to shift to a fixed mindset due to their experiences in and outside of the classroom.  In 1st grade, a study showed that 10% of students had a fixed mindset and 90% had a growth mindset.  In 2nd second grade, 18% of students had a fixed mindset, while 82% had a growth mindset.  The staggering statistic of what happens in 3rd grade shows why instilling a growth mindset is so important in order for ALL of our students to be successful.  42% of 3rd graders had a fixed mindset, while only 58% had a growth mindset.  

          In order to begin instilling a growth mindset into our students, we will be discussing and participating in activities at the start of the school year to start shifting their thinking from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset.  These activities will be designed to teach your child to understand the importance of persistence, learning from their mistakes, and understanding that an increased amount of effort is all part of the learning process. The most important thing is that they keep trying until they are successful at whatever task they have been given.  This is going to be a challenge at first for some students, but as students start to change their mindset on approaching difficult tasks, it will hopefully become second nature!  

Here are some examples of what a fixed mindset and growth mindset might sound like:

Fixed Mindset:        

-I'll never be that smart!f
-I'm no good at this!
-It's good enough.
-It's too much work!
-I can't do any better.
-I give up!
-This is too hard!
-I made a mistake.

Growth Mindset:
-Mistakes help me learn.
-I can always improve.
-What else can I try?
-I'm on the right track!
-I like to challenge myself!
-I WILL learn how to do this!
-This may take time to learn.
-Is this my best work?

Here are some alternatives to say that will have students begin to understand how the amount of effort and hard work they put into something can lead to success.

Instead of saying this: You are so athletic!  

Say this:  You really work hard and pay attention when you are on the field.

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Instead of saying this: You are really smart!   

Say this:  You work hard in school and it shows.

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Instead of saying this: You are such a good artist!    

Say this: I can see you have been practicing your drawing.  What a great improvement!

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Instead of saying this: You're a great athlete. You could be the next Stephen Curry or Larry Fitzgerald. 

Say this: Keep practicing and you will see great results.

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Instead of saying this: You always get good grades, that makes me happy.  

Say this: When you put forth effort your grades show it.  You should be so proud of yourself.  I am proud of you!

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