Becoming is Better than Being

Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset

There are so many hidden gems in Mindset, The New Psychology of Success. One of the messages that spoke to me was when Dweck stated that the fixed mindset does not allow people the luxury of becoming. They already have to be. In the growth mindset you can develop your skills and abilities can be cultivated. Where a fixed mindset stands in the way of development and change, a growth mindset is the starting point for change.

At my school, there is a current full-day pull out once a week for GT students. All the other students want to know if they can be a part of it. They plead with me to recommend them too. I think the program is great, but I also think it sends the message to the other students that being smart is innate and cannot be worked towards. There are constant messages that enable a fixed mindset and that is why it is so important to cultivate a growth mindset in oneself and one's students.

I have one student this year who has made tremendous growth. He works so hard. I have a good work ethic, but his is off the charts. At the beginning of the year when we got data, it showed that he was below grade level, did not meet the state standardized test, and learned from home all year. As educators, we have to see data as where a student is, but not where they could end up. I'm blown away by his growth, critical thinking skills, and his motivation. We need to praise effort and not ability. We must share their growth with them.

Personally, I have had to work towards having a growth mindset. When I was in college, challenging classes would shut me down. I had a fixed mindset and I would avoid studying and give up easily. Embracing the challenge was not what I did. I've been known to enjoy the path of least resistance. I would have benefited greatly in understanding my fixed mindset at an earlier time in my life. However, I am thankful a growth mindset is part of my life now and something I can share with others, especially young people.

Students really listen when you share your own personal experiences with learning and struggling to do something. It offers a safe space for them to struggle. My biggest misconception as a child was that some students were just smarter than others. I don't want children, or adults to feel this way. If I can help students avoid a fixed mindset and cultivate a growth mindset, I know it will impact their lives in a positive way.

References

Dweck, Carol S. Mindset. Ballantine Books. 2006