Growth Mindset

I just found a great article written by Sarah D. Sparks on Education Week called "'Growth Mindset' Gaining Traction as School Improvement Strategy."  I loved this article and felt that it had a lot of good information in it.  The article states that students' belief on intelligence tends to fall into two categories.  The first is the "growth mindset."  Those of the growth mindset feel that intellect is not set but can be improved upon with "effort and experimentation."  These students tend to be involved and do not let failures discourage them.  However, the second type is those students that believe in a "fixed mindset."  These students believe that intellect is hereditary and cannot be changed through effort and experimentation.  These students are often less involved and tend to let failures discourage them. 

The article went on to talk about how schools are starting to teach students that the "growth mindset" is accurate, and it gave strategies that teachers can use to improve their students' intellect.  Additionally, it gives great advice on what teachers can do to help students gain the skills to become an active learner.  The article ends with a quiz that can be taken to determine what mindset you are at.  I am a neutral mindset.  It says that I am "unsure about whether and how much change is possible to intelligence or skill.  [I] care about [my] performance and want to learn, but also don't want to have to work too hard for it."  I thought that it was close to accurate. 

I feel that teachers and future teachers should read this article.  It has a lot of good information in it and a lot of good ideas on how to help students get into the "growth mindset."  I really enjoyed the examples the article gives on what to do in classroom situations.  Sometimes, we do not think how much simple words can affect others and the examples really hit this point home. 

Sparks, S. D. (2013, September 10). 'Growth Mindset' Gaining Traction as School Improvement Strategy. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from Education Week: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/09/11/03mindset_ep.h33.html