Avoiding a False Growth Mindset

Steps to Take to Avoid the ‘False’ Growth Mindset

The four steps I plan on continuing to incorporate for my students is to make the work meaningful, to give honest and helpful feedback, to give advice on learning strategies, and to provide opportunities for students to revise their work and show their learning.

This past week, I decided to use student advice on learning strategies for their peer. In a small group setting while we were tackling a challenging math problem, one student would not begin. He consistently works from a fixed mindset. I decided to pose the question to the other students, “Is this problem easy?” All heads shook no. I asked, “What are you doing to help you work through it?” Replies included, write down steps, listen, and try. It was a very genuine moment. He was listening to his peers. He needed to know that it wasn’t easy for them, but they had some tools they used. Effort alone isn’t enough. I believe students need to try new strategies and to seek input from others when they are stuck.

Giving students an opportunity to revise work and show how they are learning can propel students out of the fixed mindset. This gives them an opportunity to learn from mistakes. I have a poster in my classroom that says, mistakes are expected, respected, inspected, corrected. We talk about this because I want them to have a safe place to make mistakes. The respect part is important. They need to continue to have self-respect when they make mistakes and to also offer that to their peers.

In the fall semester, I learned how valuable honest feedback is to my own learning and growth. I was so thankful for the feedback I received from my professor. While giving feedback to my own students, I have started asking them what they think they can do to improve. Some students who may not be putting in as much effort have time to think about what they can do to improve. If they don’t have any ideas, then I offer them some tools.

I don’t think I have a false growth mindset plan in my class. I sprinkle it in quite often. It’s not just a poster on the wall. However, I am always interested in learning more to ensure I keep it authentic and applicable to my own growth and my students' growth.

Dweck C. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success.

Dweck, C., & Bolton, J. (2015, September 22). Carol Dweck Revisits the 'Growth Mindset' (Opinion). Education Week. Retrieved January 30,2022, from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/09/23/carol-dweck-revisits-the-growth-mindset.html

Dweck, C. (2016, January 11).Recognizing and Overcoming False Growth Mindset. Edutopia. Retrieved January 30, 2022, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/recognizing-overcoming-false-growth-mindset-carol-dweck