Written by: Anna O'Connor-Morin, Senior Director of Education
Here at UCP Charter Schools we believe all students can, will, and should have access to the highest level of education for all students all the time. We focus on a methodology of teaching beliefs through Growth Mindset. This is where we live the practice that we can learn new things, achievement means different things for different needs, and we are in this community of learning together.
Growth mindset will focus on the process and effort in which we make gains in our learning, participation, or day to day approach to learning. This means that we replace the idea that we are limited to learning by simply doing but instead focus on how hard we worked to get there. The science of brain research in how we use words to impact our thinking is powerful in preparing our students beyond the brick and mortar learning of yesterday’s education needs.
Common language can be updated to support the Growth Mindset in your classroom, home, and daily life. These phrases will impact your child’s self confidence and willingness to take appropriate learning risks and be less afraid of failure. Below are some examples of how you can use phrases in your life to help your student believe that they can learn new things, all the time, through hard work and effort.
Common Phrases | Try this instead…. |
You’re so smart, you got that A. | Wow, you worked hard on that! |
These math problems are hard, just do your best! | Sometimes the problems are hard. When you make mistakes, you learn and when you think through difficulties you will learn more too. |
You’re so good at that. Great job! | You really used your practice skills to learn that and were able to persevere through that situation. |
Overall a growth mindset can significantly impact learning in various ways. Here are some key ways it affects the process:
Increases Resilience: Students with a growth mindset are more likely to persist through challenges and setbacks. They see failures as opportunities to learn rather than as signs of inability.
Encourages Effort Over Innate Ability: Instead of thinking intelligence is fixed, learners with a growth mindset focus on improving through hard work, practice, and strategies. This can lead to greater engagement and effort in tasks.
Fosters a Love of Challenges: Individuals with a growth mindset are more open to taking on challenges because they believe that overcoming them leads to growth. They view difficult tasks as chances to develop new skills.
Enhances Problem-Solving Skills: A growth mindset encourages learners to approach problems with the belief that they can improve their skills. This promotes creative thinking and the use of various strategies to tackle obstacles.
Promotes Constructive Feedback: Learners with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace feedback. They see it as a tool for improvement, not as criticism, which leads to continuous self-improvement.
Reduces Fear of Failure: Instead of avoiding mistakes, students with a growth mindset are more likely to take risks and see mistakes as a part of the learning process. This reduces anxiety around failure and promotes experimentation.
Builds Confidence: Over time, a growth mindset helps build self-confidence, as learners see the direct link between effort and improvement. This makes them more confident in their ability to learn new concepts or skills.
Increases Motivation: When learners believe their abilities can grow with effort, they are more intrinsically motivated to keep working, even when external rewards or recognition are not immediate.
Promotes Lifelong Learning: Individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to continue learning throughout their lives. They believe learning is a never-ending process and seek out new opportunities to improve.
Improves Self-Regulation: Students with a growth mindset are more likely to set goals, monitor their progress, and adjust strategies when necessary. This leads to better self-regulation of learning and time management.
If you want to learn more about Growth Mindset visit https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/
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