Growth Mindset

Learning about a growth mindset not only changed the way I motivated my students and designed my classroom philosophy, but it completely shifted the way I thought about my personal and professional abilities (or lack thereof). Here are the main takeaways I gleaned from Dr. Carol Dweck’s work.

The Mindset: Welcome failure! It is not something from which we cannot recover; instead, it should be viewed as a learning experience or moment of growth.

Why It Matters: As cliché as it sounds, believing in this notion helps one take more risks. The more healthy risks taken, the higher chance of success in areas which seem difficult or impossible to navigate.

The Mindset: We are ALWAYS learning. It never stops!

Why It Matters: If we understand that learning is continuous, we won’t feel embarrassed when attempting to comprehend new concepts. Children, those titled gifted or not, also need to understand that even if they build confidence in a subject, there will always be more to know. This establishes realistic expectations and has the potential to create a genuine thirst for knowledge. Looking back at my life, I became much more open to hearing about the thoughts and perspectives of others when I stopped assuming that I knew everything.

The Mindset: Our brains are not fixed; they are elastic! Research on the brain shows that our neurons and innerworkings are malleable.

Why It Matters: This means that we are not “naturally” good at one subject or another. With practice, dedication, and training, we can learn to become proficient at almost anything. This example is clear when children say “I’m not good at math” or “I can’t read.” They assume that their ability is decided and fixed, yet science has proven that a lot of our limitations exist in our mind.

I highly encourage you to further explore this concept. The book is a great starting point!