A growth mindset is an ability to understand that your abilities can develop, you can learn new skills and challenges are an opportunity for growth rather than a roadblock. A growth mindset is paramount to the success of students not only academically but also emotionally. A child’s academic success is strongly correlated with a student’s ability to embrace a growth mindset.
| Growth Mindset: | Fixed Mindset: |
| You can develop new skills | Skills are innate |
| Changes drive growth | Avoid challenges |
| Work toward progress not outcome | Threatened by others success |
| Failures are a learning opportunity | Give up easily |
The key to a growth mindset?
- Hard work and perseverance are key! As educators, it is important to praise the process rather than the product. Highlight strengths throughout the process and celebrate little tasks.
Example of what you can say:
“ I have seen you work so hard, do you see how much you have improved?”
- Mistakes are part of learning! It is important that students know that mistakes are part of learning and an opportunity to ask questions, practice, and improve in those skills. Mistakes help your brain grow.
Example of how you can make mistakes positive:
– You can highlight your own failures.
– Discuss the acronym for FAIL (First Attempt In Learning)
– My Best Me curriculum or a structured curriculum that will promote making mistakes and working through them through engaging activities, inspiring stories and discussions.
- Not Yet!! As children go through their academic careers, they will often need to be reminded of their abilities. It is important to promote the power of “Not Yet”. It is important for students to know that some things take time instead of saying I can’t say I don’t know how to do that yet.
I can’t ……………………………YET
I don’t understand………………YET
I’m not good at that ……………YET
It doesn’t work………………….YET
My Best Me
promotes a growth mindset in children all the way up to 12th grade.
