Implementing a growth mindset in your class can be a difficult task because most of us didn’t have it implemented in our classrooms growing up. The main focus of our academics were primarily based on proficiency of scores or grades. In the article, Amani Altaleb emphasized the focus on individual academic growth rather than grades and test scores. Rather than solely praising intelligence and effort, we should also be taught and praise the importance of critical thinking and trying different ways to find a solution. The article also reminds us to be aware of the age group you are trying to teach this concept to and the environment of the school. A key reminder to keep in mind when finding ways to instill a growth mindset in your classroom, is to simply ask yourself if you understand and employ a mindset yourself? From there, it is important to find ways to communicate with your colleagues and hopefully create similar strategies in order to practice in a growth mindset in more than just one class a day. We can do this by creating workshops or seminars for the teachers that detail the differences and benefits between a fixed and growth mindset. Another way to implement a growth mindset in our classroom, is by taking the time to get to know our students as individuals and find their talents, passions, and interests. Building a flexible curriculum can also help this. For example, instead of assigning a project on a limited number of topics that you chose, simply give the students the rubric and let them choose their topics. This can immediately boost their attitude towards the assignment.

In an article by the School of Education, it further emphasizes the benefits a growth mindset can have for a student versus having a fixed mindset. As a teacher, we can adjust our environment and curriculum in a way that promotes this kind of thinking. We can do this by simply normalizing and praising struggle. Many students see struggle as failure and it’s important to teach them that struggle is a part of the process of the overall goal. It is also important to teach the students how to attack this struggle and make these challenges fun and exciting for them. We should also create an environment that welcomes mistakes. We can do this by stopping to point out the mistakes we just made and demonstrating that everyone is going to make them and react in ways that promote corrections. Finally, the most effective way to practice a growth mindset in your classroom is to simply communicate. We should be setting goals as a class, praising the process over results, and getting to know our students.

References

Altaleb, A. (2021). Using Growth Mindset Strategies in the Classroom. Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education, 20 (2).

Retrieved from https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/taboo/vol20/iss2/16

“How to Foster a Growth Mindset in the Classroom.” American University, https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/growth- mindset-in-the-classroom.