Growth Mindset

We shared information in an earlier blog post about Dr. Carol Dweck and the concept of "growth mindset."  In case you missed it, you can see that entry here: 

 http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/08/what-is-mindset.html

In her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Dr. Dweck describes students with a "growth mindset" as those who believe that their intelligence can be changed or developed and students with a "fixed mindset" as those who believe that their intelligence is fixed.  Students who believe that they can "grow their brains" through focusing on the learning process, trying different strategies and learning from mistakes actually perform much better academically than their fixed mindset peers, according to Dr. Dweck's research - which has also been supported by additional studies since the publication of her book.  When students with a "fixed mindset" struggle, they may think they are  "dumb" or that the work is just too hard for them and they may just stop trying to learn.  Students with a "growth mindset" see setbacks as opportunities for problem-solving, forward progress and learning, rather than as failures.  Research described at http://www.mindsetworks.com/ suggests positive outcomes with academics, behavior and student motivation.  Not surprisingly, the idea of "growth mindset" continues to be a popular topic in the fields of education and psychology.  

An interesting perspective from a high school student on how working towards a "growth mindset" changed her educational experience can be found here: 

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/10/02/how-to-weave-growth-mindset-into-school-culture/



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

Image
This month, we want to take time to remember those who have lost their lives to suicide, those who have struggled with suicidal ideation, and acknowledge all of those who have been impacted.  Why is this work important? According to the CDC, in 2021, there were 48,183 deaths by suicide in the United States, which is equivalent to 1 death every 11 minutes. 1.7 million adults attempted suicide. In 2021, the suicide rate among males was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides. In North Carolina, suicide is the second leading cause of death in ages 10-18. There was a 94% increase in youth suicide from 2011-2020.  Suicide can be prevented by recognizing signs, learning how to help, and taking steps to help those in need. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Student Services Department has a district protocol to respond to and manage suicide risk.   Firearms are the most common method used, at more than 50%,
Read more

Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 11-17, 2024

Image
  Although Random Acts of Kindness week will be celebrated next week, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has provided a calendar for the 2023-2024 school year; that's 365 ideas of ways to spread kindness. They also provide a variety of resources for spreading kindness at school, at home, and at work, including a 2024 calendar for adults to spread kindness at work throughout the year.  Additionally, the Social Emotional Learning and Restorative Practices department has compiled a Random Acts of Kindness resource folder that includes lesson plans, kindness activities, announcements, book lists, and more.  Join the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in their effort to make kindness the norm, not just next week, but all year long! 
Read more

Teen Week - Planning for Your Future

Last week, we posted a blog on fun activities for students during this time of quarantine.  As we looked over the list, we noticed that it was mostly focused on elementary and middle school students. Our high school students are also struggling to find ways to fill their time and remain socially connected to their peers.  For seniors, this time has been particularly difficult because they are missing out on many of the events they have looked forward to since kindergarten! To support our teenage students, our blog will be devoting an entire week to them!  Each day, we will have a list of activities to keep them engaged, active, and entertained. Today we are sharing ways they can begin preparing for college and planning for their future. Let us know if you think of more!  Show us your activities by tweeting to us @schoolpsychws. Use #wspsychs and #wsfcslearnon.  We would love to add your ideas to this list! College Prep Is your teen planning to take the SAT next year? Now is a great
Read more