What is Growth Mindset?Our school is committed to developing a growth mindset school environment - a place where all students believe that with effort and perseverance, they can succeed.
You have a growth mindset if:
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Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset
Dr. Carol Dweck, a research at Stanford University, has identified two belief systems about intelligence. A fixed mindset is one where we believe that our children's innate abilities, talents, and intelligence are fixed. They are either "good" or talented at something or they are not. They can certainly learn new things, but this particular skill or subject is not really their "thing."
How many of you have ever thought to yourself (or said out loud), my daughter probably isn't very good in math because I was not very good in math." Or, "I was not good in high school English, so I guess my son takes after me." These are examples of fixed mindset thinking. Even a perceived positive statement like, "He has a natural talent in ______" or "He is a born leader" demonstrates fixed mindset thinking.
As a parent, you may have fixed mindset thinking about your own abilities; you may think, "I can't cook", "I can't dance; I have two left feet", "I leave that to my wife/husband, I can't figure it out."
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence, skills, and talent are malleable, and they can change with effort, perseverance, and practice. Neuroscience explains this as neuroplasticity. We can all get "smarter."
How many of you have ever thought to yourself (or said out loud), my daughter probably isn't very good in math because I was not very good in math." Or, "I was not good in high school English, so I guess my son takes after me." These are examples of fixed mindset thinking. Even a perceived positive statement like, "He has a natural talent in ______" or "He is a born leader" demonstrates fixed mindset thinking.
As a parent, you may have fixed mindset thinking about your own abilities; you may think, "I can't cook", "I can't dance; I have two left feet", "I leave that to my wife/husband, I can't figure it out."
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence, skills, and talent are malleable, and they can change with effort, perseverance, and practice. Neuroscience explains this as neuroplasticity. We can all get "smarter."
How to Praise Children
Moving toward a growth-oriented mindset can give your children the drive to succeed. We never want to say things like this to our children:
These are all fixed mindset statements. We need to focus feedback on what a child does, not who he or she is. We never, ever want to say things like, "You are so smart!" Watch the 2 videos below to find out why.
- Some people are just not math (or fill in the subject of choice) people.
- Writing (or art, math, etc.) comes naturally to you.
- Look at that, you did that without even trying.
- You have a natural talent.
These are all fixed mindset statements. We need to focus feedback on what a child does, not who he or she is. We never, ever want to say things like, "You are so smart!" Watch the 2 videos below to find out why.
- How to Praise Children
- Carol Dweck: A Study on Praise and Mindsets
The Power of "Yet"
One of the more frequently used words in your vocabulary should be the word yet, such as, "You are not quite getting it yet, bit with practice, you will" A couple of videos to help you use this work more often are:
- Carol Dweck: The Power of Yet
- Sesame Street: Janelle Monae: Power of Yet
Learning From Failure
From the moment our children are born, we want to protect them. Our instincts are to catch them before they fall. It is not easy seeing our children not have success in whatever goal they are working toward - from learning to walk to getting into their first choice college. But, in order to raise resilient, confident, optismistic children, we must learn to be comfortable when they make mistakes and/or fail. When children are given opportunities to struggle, it builds resiliency. Without struggle it is difficult to develop coping skills, grit, and resiliency. As parents, we must model this as well; let your kids see you being persistent and overcoming challenges - not quitting because something is "too hard."
Check out these articles below for some more information on the importance of making mistakes and how children learn from failure:
The Importance of Mistakes: Helping Children Learn From Failure
Allow Your Children to Learn From Failure
How Children Learn from Failure
Check out these articles below for some more information on the importance of making mistakes and how children learn from failure:
The Importance of Mistakes: Helping Children Learn From Failure
Allow Your Children to Learn From Failure
How Children Learn from Failure