Our class will spend a significant amount of time learning about growth mindset throughout the school year. I'd like to share with you some information about growth mindset so that we can better support our children towards success both at school and at home.
Growth mindset was developed by researcher Carol Dweck and it refers to the idea that we are not born with a fixed intelligence, but rather we are all capable of making ourselves smarter and that we never stop learning. Growth mindset is an attitude that believes effort, not innate abilities, will lead to achievement. People with a growth mindset do not give up when challenged and they are constantly stepping out of their comfort zone.
The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset, which believes we are born with a predetermined intelligence. People with a fixed mindset are afraid of mistakes, avoid challenges, and focus on perfection.
Neuroscience research has proven how malleable our brains are and how we can in fact make ourselves smarter. The brain is made up of many connections called synapses. Information is sent from the brain through neurons, which may be thought of as the brain’s messengers. The neurons travel on the synapses, so the more synapses there are means the faster the neurons can send messages.
more synapses = faster brain messages sent
When we are in a moment of new learning, such as when we’ve made a mistake, that is the moment when new synapses are made in the brain. The new thinking that occurs leads to new brain connections made. When we grow new synapses, we grow our brains!
Mistakes
Challenges
New experiences
The power of “yet.” It is important that we remind ourselves that we may not be good at something YET, but that doesn’t mean we will never be good at it. Remembering the power of yet will help maintain a growth mindset when feeling stuck.
One of the ways you can foster the development of a growth mindset in your own child is to encourage the four aforementioned growth mindset pillars: mistakes, challenges, new experiences, and the power of yet.
It is important for children to understand that mistakes are good and provide fantastic opportunities for new learning. When your child makes a mistake in his/her learning, it is essential to positively point out the mistake and talk about how this mistake can teach your child something new.
Look for opportunities to challenge your child and provide new experiences. This will support your child in wanting to step out of his/her comfort zone both inside and outside of school.
When your child feels stuck, remind him/her of the power of yet. It’s ok to not feel good at something yet, but that doesn’t mean progress can never be made.
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein and Mark Pett
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton
Beautiful oops by Barney Saltzberg
A Little Bit of Oomph! by Barney Saltzberg
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds
The Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada
What Do You Do With A Problem? by Kobi Yamada
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by Joann Deak
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Flight School by Lita Judge
After the Fall by Dan Santat
“The power of yet - Carol Dweck”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-swZaKN2Ic
“Study skills - Learning from mistakes (Jo Boaler)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exmCR28kmZk&t=1s
“How you can be good at math, and other surprising facts about learning - Jo Boaler”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3icoSeGqQtY