Your Perception of the Growth Mindset

Some things I noticed while watching Dr. Carol Dweck's talk are as follows: She starts by talking about the Chicago students who have not received the grade, not yet grade, instead of failing. I think this is an optimistic viewpoint. It implies that students can continue again and continue to grow or retry the class/ credit they need to make the "passing score" to proceed to graduation. This helps the student have the growth mindset, as it gives them the power to learn from their mistakes or gain a better understanding of what they need to make the mark "of gradation". It helps shape the student's viewpoint from being a "you missed the mark" to you've got this and have the future ahead of you.

I believe in education we are focused on the "A". As an 8th grade teacher at a title one school, I hear every day, every email, every speech from my principal about we have to maintain out A from TEA. It breaks my heart that in education we are so focused on that letter to show we achieved something. It goes back to what we hear a lot that we are teaching to standardized tests instead of making sure students understand all of the class material.

In the TedTalk video by Eduardo Briceno, he talks about a man named Josh Waitzkin who won so many chess championships that he moved on to martial arts. Josh was able to unlock the growth mindset and apply it to other aspects of his life. Josh also talks about how he failed his first chess championship. I think this is crucial in every aspect of our lives. If we consistently achieve our goal or dream the first time, we will not continue to work at it or pursue it. We will know that we will receive whatever "it is" the first time and then what is to keep us motivated to try?

The one thing I keep coming back to between both videos and the chart listed above is that the growth mindset is an open-minded one. They believe they can, so they try. They do not give up. Even if they fail, they continue with what they are working on: chess, school/ grades, martial arts, etc. Once you become a fixed mindset, you become closed minded and close off any possibilities at growth.

Which mindset do you have?

References:

Briceno. E. (November, 18, 2015)  The Power of belief -- mindset and success [Video].

YouTube Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc

Dweck, C. (October 9, 2014)  Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck. [Video].

YouTube Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiiEeMN7vbQ