Significant learning with a Growth Mindset
Creating a significant learning environment in our classrooms is very important. Our students need to be learning in different ways than we teachers did. The way things are in the classroom have changed completely through the years as new ideas and technologies come to play. In order to handle the changes, we need to adopt a growth mindset. A growth mindset will allow you to see that you may have troubles along the way, but you can learn from the mishaps to get better.
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In EDLD 5302, I created my first growth mindset plan. In it, I talked about Dweck's (2006) four steps for developing a growth mindset. First, you must learn to recognize your fixed mindset voice. I definitely know what mine sounds like. It screams at me a lot right now because I am getting stressed about STAAR exams coming up. Step two is realizing that you have a choice to make on whether you will listen to the fixed mindset or embrace the growth mindset. Step three is to talk back in a growth mindset. Push away the old fixed ideas and step out of your comfort zone. Step four is to take action towards your growth mindset goals.
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I'll admit that with the craziness of this 2020-2021 school year, I haven't really done much in trying to implement a growth mindset in my students. I'm working hard just to keep my head above the water. It's meant that I've been working on my own growth mindset, and that really needs to be in place so that I can demonstrate it to my students. I model the power of the growth mindset by not giving up. When I have a setback, I say I haven't got it yet and move on towards my goal. I am constantly looking for ways to update how I do things. I've even let my students know that I am in graduate school, and sometimes they ask me how it's going. I'm honest with them that it's not all that easy at times, but I'm still moving through things and doing the best I can.
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Implementing growth mindset with students will change how things go in class. Right now, they are hesitant to speak out in class
because they are worried about being wrong and looking dumb. If we bring in the growth mindset, we discuss how you may not have it right now, but you can develop the knowledge as you go. All students have weak areas, and they have to be willing to learn more and step out of their comfort zone. We have to work to make our classrooms a safe place where they feel a little more comfortable speaking out without fearing that someone else will make fun of them.
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I think that growth mindset may also help with how acceptable students think cheating is right now. Our school systems are so hyper-focused on grades that our students are too. They feel like that they can't fail a class, so they cheat to make sure they pass. If we point out that there are ways to fail forward, then maybe they won't be so stressed about passing and try things on their own first. We need to help them develop grit. Angela Lee Duckworth (TED, 2013) defines grit as "passion and perseverance for very long term goals." Students need to learn to stick to their goals and work towards them even if they have a few setbacks on the way. Growth mindset will help with that.
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How does growth mindset tie into creating a significant learning environment? A lot of our students are not used to being an active member in the classroom, so when they are asked to participate in a more significant learning environment, there will be some hesitation. Change can be difficult, so implementing a growth mindset plan in the classroom can help them to feel more comfortable with the process.
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References:
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Dweck, C.S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
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TED. (2013, May 9). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance [Video]. YouTube.
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