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Growth Mindset Plan

A Growth Mindset Action Plan

A growth mindset, when embraced by individuals and organizations, has the power to transform obstacles and setbacks into opportunities for continuous development and advancement. In education, this shift in perception is not just beneficial but crucial. It clears the path to overcoming obstacles in education, encouraging a culture of lifelong learning and growth, and assuring a better future for all parties concerned. A growth mindset is about more than perseverance and repeated effort. For instance, it could involve encouraging students to view mistakes as learning opportunities or fostering a classroom environment where students feel at ease formulating questions and seeking informed guidance. This great effort must be accompanied by a mental, intelligent outlook that enables individuals and organizations to achieve truly meaningful progress. It is about facing challenges, accepting suggestions from constructive criticism, and finding inspiration in others' success.

 

The power of “Yet”

 

In the context of a growth mindset, the word 'yet' is not just a word but a potent tool. It embodies the belief in possibilities and advancement, enabling us to progress in our abilities without succumbing to the pressure and immediacy of 'already now. ' This seemingly simple word, 'yet,' can spark transformative learning experiences, igniting a sense of continuous progress and potential in our educational journey and life in general.

 

Educators must use positive, encouraging language with our young learners to help them develop self-confidence and a positive self-image, which will help them accomplish their goals in life by consistently applying the power of the word 'yet' alongside an intelligent effort strategy.

 

Growth Mindset versus Fixed Mindset

 

Individuals with a growth mindset typically thrive because they do not view every experience as good or bad. Two opposing perspectives on one's characteristics and abilities, known as a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, significantly impact how people deal with challenges, setbacks, and educational opportunities.

 

Individuals with a fixed mindset think they cannot improve their skills, abilities, talents, and intelligence through time and practice. They believe they are born with specific predetermined talents, and little can they do to nurture them. In a contrasting view, individuals with a growth mindset believe that intelligence is not fixed, but can be developed through effort and learning. They think they can significantly improve their skills, abilities, intelligence, and talents over time by applying an intelligent action plan put into practice. A growth mindset resumes the belief that one can enhance one's skills and intelligence with commitment and diligence. It is more probable that individuals will take on challenges, persevere through hardships, and keep improving if they think their skills can develop and grow.

 

Individuals with a growth mindset typically thrive because they view every experience not as good or bad but as an opportunity to grow. Recognizing there is always room for improvement in themselves and others, they foster a culture of continuous learning and progress, leading to positive outcomes.

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Understanding and Implementing the Four Steps of a Growth Mindset

 

Step 1. Learn to hear your fixed mindset “voice.” Here could be a voice that says, 'I'm just not good at this,' or 'I'll never be able to do it.” By identifying these negative self-perceptions, we, as educators, hold the power to help our young learners challenge and overcome them, thereby playing a crucial role in their growth. At this stage, young learners are encouraged to learn new concepts, and it is our role as educators to instill a sense of positivity by using inclusive, positive language. For example, second-graders are still eager to discover new experiences, such as exploring informational books and learning new concepts. Therefore, we must promote statements such as "we can always fix mistakes” and “it is okay to try again ." As educators, we play a vital role in helping these young learners build a persistent voice within.

 

Step 2. Recognize that you have a choice. At this stage, students can learn that they always have options and choices for them to improve. It will help them understand that we have objectives to reach and must work consistently and intelligently to achieve them while learning new things. Growth of Mindset is valuable for all grade levels to implement, fostering a culture of resilience.

 

Step 3. Talk back to it with a growth mindset voice. As educators, our role in stage three is crucial. We need to encourage positive self-talk and discourage negative self-criticism. For instance, when a second grader struggles with writing a constructive response about an informational text, we should steer them away from thoughts such as 'I'll never get it right' or 'I'm not good at this.' Instead, we should promote constructive self-criticism and uphold a growth mindset. This strategy is essential for emotional development and academic growth.

 

Step 4. Take the growth mindset action. At this stage, to counteract the effects of a fixed mindset, we need to activate our young learners' self-reasoning by answering questions such as, but not limited to, “ What can I learn from this? Is my current learning strategy working? If not, how can I change it? What steps can I take to help me succeed? What information can I gather? Do I have to ask my teacher for clarification?” (Scott, 2016). This reflective, thoughtful practice helps us resist giving in to fixed mindset taught patterns.

 

Fostering a Culture of Growth Mindset
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Prepare yourself: Accept obstacles, setbacks, and failures as learning opportunities to reflect, evaluate, or change the course of action. Change the vision angle of perspective; challenges and setbacks are there to improve performance and quality continuously.

 

Prepare your environment: Cultivate a passion for lifelong learning and progress. A passion for learning is essential to a growth mindset. Develop inquisitive minds about their surroundings. Propose research-based learning for students to pick up new abilities and venture into unknown areas. Recall that learning is a lifetime endeavor and doesn't end when you graduate from school.

 

Prepare your Students: Let your students be in the company of positive and inspiring people who set an accomplished example for them to keep aspiring to improve their academic performance.Promote a growth mindset by showing children appropriate videos about perseverance's importance. Encourage a culture in the classroom where it is OK to try again without prejudice so that students feel free to complete the work and correct themselves along the way.

 
How often and when will you advocate for a growth mindset?

 

Teachers must constantly encourage students to improve their daily activities and routines to foster a growth mindset culture. They must teach pupils that making errors is a necessary part of the path to success and that we can always learn from them to achieve beyond our initial goals. Setting up a growth mindset culture should be an ongoing task.

 

How has the Growth Mindset Changed My Mind?

 

I've discovered via exposure to the growth mindset culture that productivity at the end of the day does not equate to quality. When faced with a sense of urgency, I've learned to calm down and consider what would be the best course of action given the circumstances.Now, I approach my students with a more positive attitude, reminding myself that while my students are still learning, mistakes are acceptable as long as we learn to fix them later. I am also trying to learn new and creative ways to do things while being kinder to myself.

 

References

 

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: the New Psychology of Success. Random House. https://a.co/d/cW9oSJu 

 

 Intellspot. (2024, June 22). Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: The Difference Explained

https://www.intellspot.com/growth-mindset-vs-fixed-mindset/ 

 

Hayes, Thelma. (2024, June 22). Promoting a Growth Mindset through the Lens of Children’s Literature. A Maryland State Department of Education Resource. https://marylandfamiliesengage.org/promoting-a-growth-mindset-through-the-lens-of-childrens-literature/ 

 

Scott, Jeffrey. (2016, December 26). Change Your Fixed Mindset into a Growth Mindset [Complete Guide]. Scott Jeffrey. https://scottjeffrey.com/change-your-fixed-mindset/#The_Dangers_of_a_Fixed_Mindset 

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela. 

2024 - Doyna Johnston

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