What is Growth Mindset Anyway?
Growth Mindset: “In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” (Dweck, 2015)
Fixed Mindset: “In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.” (Dweck, 2015)
So why does this matter to me? To you? To our students?
The ways in which we interact with our children (and students) drastically affects their attitudes towards themselves (self-esteem, and learning). Something to think about...
A story about Pauline Einstein.
Who is Pauline Einstein, you may ask? She is ultimately a mother with a growth mindset before growth mindset was ever defined. She is the mother of Albert Einstein. When Albert was a young boy he was unable to read. His teacher sent him home from school with a note (which he wasn't able to read so he gave it to his mother). "What does the note say?" asked young Albert. With tears streaming down her face she told him that the note stated he was too smart for school and therefore the teacher had nothing left she could possibly teach him. He would need to be homeschooled.
Albert's mother proceeded to homeschool Albert and teach him how to read with persistence and patience. We all know the rest of the story and how Albert proceeded to learn and change our world. After Pauline's death, Albert found the letter from his teacher. Tears then streamed down his face. The note had actually said Albert could no longer come to school because he was "too dumb to learn anything." If it were not for the compassion and persistence that Pauline demonstrated to her son, our world would be a very different place to live! THAT is a beautiful example of Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset and the power of our perspectives.
