What is a growth mindset?
Growth mindset is not a new concept. It has been around for quite some time. Carol Dweck, Ph. D. introduced the idea back in 2006. She shook the world of psychology and education with her surprising new idea that there are 2 very different types of mindset: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. We have to understand the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset to fully understand. “In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits" (Dweck, 2015). When students have this mindset, they really don't understand their full worth. They feel that their potential has limits. “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" (Dweck, 2015). This is the mindset that we truly want our students to have. When students have a true growth mindset, they value the power of the word yet. They feel comfortable with, even welcome, failures because that is what helps the brain grow.
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Step 1-Listen
I will need to really listen to all of the other teachers involved. They need to know that I value their input if I am going to bring blended learning to life in my school. I am starting the movement, but I'm not the only one involved.
step 2-choices
I will need to be open and welcoming to challenges and hiccups on the way to full implementation. I will look at these as a level of growth and I will need to have the growth mindset to welcome them. I also need to remove the word challenges from my vocabulary and replace it with opportunities for growth.
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step 3-Voice
For this step in my growth, I will need to face all of the challenges head on by taking the time to write them all down. That will be the best way for me to adapt and overcome. If any challenges should come about again, I will have a proof reminder of how I faced it and used it to help me grow.
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step 4-take action
This is the step in my growth in this endeavor when I practice using my growth mindset I have been working on. This is the time that I might need to start "taking on a new challenge, learning from setbacks, persisting without exception, adjusting [my] actions based on feedback" (Jeffrey, n.d.).
How I will incorporate the 4 steps...
The Power of Yet
The word YET is a powerful word. It is a word that needs to be in everyone's vocabulary and instilled in their brains. As a teacher, I need to make sure my students understand the power and strength of this word. It is a word that was coined by Carol Dweck, Ph. D. when she introduced growth mindset. When I worked at my last school, we were forced to bring the power of yet to our lives. We had posters on our walls, we enforced the idea in our classrooms, we even had professional development in it. We lived and breathed the word yet. It was a powerful thing. My students, even my Pre-K babies, thrived on it. They would say, " I don't understand it... yet, but I will!"
How I will Promote Growth Mindset (with resources)
There are a number of things that I will be using to promote a growth mindset in my classroom. When I think back to when I taught growth mindset, I can't forget how I used the book Bubblegum Brain by Julia Cook. It is a book that has 2 main characters: Bubblegum Brain and Brick Brain. Both characters face the same situations but Bubblegum Brain comes at them with a growth mindset. It teaches children how important it is to have a bubblegum brain that moves, twists, and grows as new things are learned and as challenges come.
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Class Dojo is another thing I will use to promote a growth mindset in my classroom with my students. Class Dojo is a program that I use daily with my students to promote good behavior. The website/app also has what they call Big Ideas for the students to follow. There are videos as well as full lesson plans that can help students understand the concept of growth mindset.
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How Will I Promote Growth Mindset with My Fellow Teachers?
I am looking forward to this part. The first step to getting my fellow teachers on board with me is to introduce growth mindset in a presentation during one of our school's weekly Thursday afternoon staff meetings. I will present to the entire teaching staff by showing TED Talks and short videos about the power of yet and how powerful it can be. Then, the next step would be to start a book study/club to read and discuss Carol Dweck's book Mindset The New Psychology of Success.
Growth mindset isn't something that is a "I will take a professional development on it today, use it for a few months, and forget about it". It is here to stay and it is necessary for teachers to promote when they want to make an innovative change in their school. Growth mindset needs to be used often with fidelity if we teachers want it to make a difference in our school or in our classrooms. "The great teachers believe in the growth of the intellect and talent, and they are fascinated with the process of learning" (Dweck, 2016, p. 197).
References
(n.d.). ClassDojo. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://www.classdojo.com/
Cook, J. (2017). Bubble gum brain activity & idea book: Ready, get mindset... Grow! (L. Klaassen, Ed.). National Center for Youth Issues.
Dweck, C. (2015, September 22). Carol Dweck Revisits the ‘Growth Mindset’. Education Week
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-carol-dweck-revisits-the-growth-mindset/2015/09?cmp=cpc-goog-ew- growth%20mindset&ccid=growth%20mindset&ccag=growth%20mindset&cckw=%2Bgrowth%20%2Bmindset&cccv=content%20ad&gcli d=Cj0KEQiAnvfDBRCXrabLl6-6t-0BEiQAW4SRU
Dweck, C. S. (2007). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Ballantine Books.
Dweck, C. (2014) Carol Dweck: The power of believing that you can improve. TED. Retrieved from:
https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve
Jeffrey, S. (n.d.). Change your fixed mindset into a growth mindset [Complete guide]. Scott Jeffrey. Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://scottjeffrey.com/change-your-fixed-mindset/#Additional_Resources
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