Developing a Growth Mindset

From this Lesson You Will Learn:• Intelligence can be developed• The brain is pliable and capable of changing• Doing challenging work is the best way to make the brain stronger and smarter

What is Mindset?• What is mindset? • A mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations.

Mindset Quiz- Agree or Not

1. My intelligence is something very basic about me that I can’t really change. 2. When I don’t understand something I like to slow down and try to figure it out. 3. I am intimidated by academic challenges.4. I have been told by others that I am smart.5. Learning is fun.6. I often feel unmotivated to learn.7. When I don’t do well in a subject I think that I must not be very good at that particular subject.8. When I perform poorly academically I do not get discouraged.9. When I don’t understand something, I get very frustrated and want to give up.10. I shouldn’t have to work as hard in subjects that I am naturally good at. Quiz adapted from “The Curse of the ‘Smart’ Student” at extremebiology.net.

What’s Your Mindset?• Give yourself 4 points each time you answered AGREE to these questions: • 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 • Subtract two points for each time you answered AGREE to these questions: • 2, 5, 8 • If you scored:

less than 5, you have a growth mindset. between 5-10, you have a growth mindset

• with some fixed ideas. between 11-15, you have a mostly fixed

• mindset. above 15, you have a solidly fixed mindset.

YESTERDAY’S THEORY: WE ARE BORN WITH INTELLIGENCE • Alfred Binet Invented the first useable IQ test• Yesterday’s Theory- No matter how much you learn or how hard you work your intelligence stays the same!

TODAY’S THEORY: MINDSET MATTERS

•IN OTHER WORDS...It’s not what you are born with that matters; it’s your mindset that matters.

•Growth Mindset: Intelligence is a quality that can be changed and developed.

THE BRAIN IS MALLEABLE (pliable, able to change)

• The brain is like a muscle that gets stronger and works better the more it is exercised.

• Too often students believe the brain is static, leading them to think talent and giftedness are permanent, unchanging personal attributes that automatically bring later success.

• Every time you work hard, stretch yourself and learn something new, your brain forms new connections, and over time you actually become smarter.

STEPS TO DEVELOPING A GROWTH MINDSET

•Step #1: Learn, learn, learn •Step #2 Realize hard work is key •Step #3 Face setbacks

When You Make A BadGrade

• A fixed mindset predicts students’ failure to recover from an initial poor grade. Students with a fixed mindset may think that they are just “dumb” and quit trying.

• A growth mindset predicts successful recovery. Students with a growth mindset will accept that failure can help them learn from their mistakes. They will keep trying.

Facing Setbacks • Fixed Mindset: Hide mistakes and conceal weaknesses,

retreat, blame others, act superior • “I’ll spend less time on this subject from now on” • “I will try not to take this subject ever again” • “I will try to cheat on the next test” •✔Growth Mindset: • Learn from mistakes and confront weaknesses• “I will work harder in class from now on” • “I will spend more time studying for the test”

REALIZING HARD WORK IS KEY

• Fixed Mindset: Learning should come naturally“When I have to work really hard in a subject, I don’t feel very smart.”

• Growth Mindset: Putting a lot of effort into learning and working hard is key

• “The harder I have to work at something, the more effort I put into something, the better I’ll be at it.”

To Develop a Growth Mindset• Focus on effort and persistence despite setbacks • Choose difficult tasks• Focus on strategies and reflect on different strategies

that work and don’t work • Focus on learning and improving • Seek challenges • Work hard