The Power of YET

What is the Power of Yet?

The power of yet is a component of growth mindset. Students who have a mindset that says "I don't know this ...yet" have been shown to take on more challenging activities than peers who view their abilities as set or fixed. You, as an educator, can help develop this SUPER power! Help your students by adding yet to the end of definitive statements.

Classroom Implications

YET. When you hear students say things like "I don't know it" or "I can't" immediately try to reinforce the statement with a yet! Yet gives acknowledgement to the temporary failure while reinforcing effort and a mindset that says "I can change" or "I can grow." Here are some other statements to reinforce this belief if yet simply does not fit.

Praise. Through Carol Dweck's research, findings indicate that students are more likely to develop a growth mindset when praised for their efforts as opposed to abilities. Instead of saying "look how smart you are!" it is suggested to say "wow, you are a hard worker!" A subtle difference with a huge impact. The power of yet and growth mindset aren't just for students who are having trouble, keep this in mind for your students who seem to pick up on a task quickly. Even if it appears a student picks up something quickly, or is very good at something, remember to praise the effort, not the intelligence! Want to see it in action? Check out this quick video:

Fear of Failure. No student wants to look like a failure. Without the power of yet mentality, students may be hesitant to try something more challenging. Although we may see this as being defiant, perhaps the student has a fixed mindset that believes they are either smart or dumb and their intelligence is determined by their performance on a single question/assessment/writing prompt etc. If a student is giving minimal effort, is not raising her/his hand, or appears apprehensive when completing work, try talking with the student or class about the power of yet. Encourage them that failure is not final, and it will help them be a better student!

Time. As with anything, a change of mindset takes time. Your students have been developing their mindset since birth, so be patient! As seen above, some students will give more effort immediately, but some students have a very fixed mindset, simply give them time. Don't feel discouraged if this doesn't work the first time, stick with it! Students need to know it's truly safe to fail before they are willing to try more difficult tasks.