Dr. Dweck developed the idea of fixed mindset and growth mindset to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. Her theory is that when students believe they can get smarter, paired with effort, their brains become stronger. With this mindset, high levels of achievement can be reached.
Researchers have also discovered that teacher practice has a big impact on student mindset. The feedback that teachers give their students can either encourage a child to choose a challenge and increase achievement or look for an easy way out. For example, studies on different kinds of praise have shown that telling children they are smart encourages a fixed mindset, whereas praising hard work and effort cultivates a growth mindset.
What’s the best way to get started with your growth mindset revolution?
Check out these five must watch Growth Mindset videos.
Dweck’s 10-minute TED talk is an excellent entry point to begin learning about growth mindset. She walks you through “the power of yet”—and “the tyranny of now”—to show how we can influence our own brain’s capacity for learning.
Recommended for: parents, teachers, administrators, and high-school students
This video, published by Sprouts, explains the difference between having a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. With lots of examples to go along with key attitudes and beliefs, this video is fantastic for understanding how to shift our fixed mindset tendencies to a growth one.
Recommended for: parents, teachers, administrators, upper elementary and middle school students.
This is the first episode of a five part series developed by ClassDojo in collaboration with Stanford University’s PERTS lab. In this five episode video series on Growth Mindset, two monsters named Mojo and Katie explore the different aspects of growth mindset so that teachers and students everywhere can learn about it together in their classrooms! Check out episode one below. If you want to continue with the rest of the episodes, click HERE.
Recommended for: Elementary students
Recommended for: teachers, parents, elementary, middle, and high-school students
get into the growth mindset idea with Janelle Monáe singing “The Power of Yet” on Sesame Street. Growth Mindset themed Math Mystery (available in different math levels). Set the stage with the video hook, then instruct students to solve the math questions to unlock the growth mindset clues. Then, using their powers of deduction, find the Magnificent Growth Mindset winner! Learn more here.
Preparation
– No Prep required! Print the student pages, staple or place in a folder, and your students are set to go.
Multiple Uses
– Suitable for independent, pairs, or group work.
– Use as part of your math centers, add to your sub tubs, make it part of your early finisher tasks, give for homework, or make it part of your classroom practice/review sessions.
CLICK ON YOUr GRADE LEVEL BELOW TO LEARN MORE about this Growth Mindset Math Mystery.
Math skills required within the description section. 1st Grade 4th Grade 2nd Grade 5th Grade 3rd Grade 6th Grade
