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Growth Mindset
Embracing a growth mindset is crucial for personal and professional development for the various educators in the K-12 classrooms. By believing in their ability to learn and grow, teachers open themselves up to a world of opportunities and possibilities. A statement that stuck with me from a video on TikTok, she said, "nobody is a failure, they quit before they succeed. No great story started with I succeeded at everything I ever tried to do! You have the power to make your failures temporary or to make them permanent." Instead of seeing challenges as roadblocks, we should view them as stepping stones to success. The positive outlook not only enhances our resilience but also fuels our motivation to overcome and achieve our goals so that students of all ages can maximize their full potential. According to Carol Dweck, a psychologist at Stanford University, our perception of abilities' origins is influenced by how we think.
I have created a Growth Mindset Plan, which defines the growth mindset, explains its importance, suggests strategies for nurturing and promoting it, and provides a list of valuable resources that can help educators like myself to enhance their thinking process and meet the demands of our profession. My plan will also help me incorporate the four steps of the growth mindset using Scott Jeffrey’s Four Steps (n.d.) as a guide. By embedding this growth mindset plan into our professional learning plan it will enhance teachers willingness to learn new things.
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How I will use the four steps?
Step 1: Learn to recognize my "voice" of appropriate attitude.
I'll begin by identifying an appropriate thinking voice, which often doubts my abilities. Questions like "Are you certain you can make it happen?" or "Consider the chance that you come up short?" can occur to mind when I prepare to take another test, for example. I may more easily make plans to deal with these thoughts if I acknowledge them as a part of my fixed mindset thinking.
Step 2: Acknowledge that I've have a choice.
I know that I can interpret these voices in a very different way. I will perceive challenges, setbacks, and evaluations as incredible opportunities for growth and progress rather than as indicators of my fixed talent or potential. I'm going to embrace the belief that I can push myself, increase my output, alter my workflow, and never stop progressing.
Stage 3: Examine it from a perspective focused on development.
When my abilities are questioned by a mindset that is not proper, I will respond with a growth mindset. I will counter the negative thoughts with optimistic affirmations, such as "I can overcome challenges through effort and perseverance," or "I will see this challenge as a valuable opportunity to enhance and develop my skills."
By actively engaging in this process, I may gradually shift my mindset from one rooted on judgment and limitations to one focused on acquiring knowledge, adaptability, and continuous growth. In the future, I will cultivate a more confident and empowering mindset towards my abilities and potential for growth.
Stage 4: Implement a shift in the mindset towards development.
By recognizing and responding to the appropriate mindset voice with a growth-oriented attitude, I am able to take the necessary actions that will lead to my self-improvement and progress.
This could involve: - Undertaking an additional examination: When faced with self-doubt or indecision, I am adept at seeking out novel challenges that push me outside my comfort zone and provide opportunities for growth and development.
- Benefiting from setbacks: Instead of getting discouraged by catastrophes, I can choose to perceive them as valuable chances for personal development. I will reflect on the mistakes made, identify lessons learned, and use this feedback to modify my approach in the future.
- Persevering through the discomfort: I acknowledge that progress often entails discomfort and perseverance. During challenging times, I will remind myself that enduring hardships is a crucial aspect of the process of personal growth and a stepping stone towards self-improvement.
- Modifying my behavior in response to a criticism: I will work to seek out criticism, whether it is from outside sources or from analyzing my own performance, and apply it to adjust improve my approaches. I understand that constructive criticism is an essential tool for growth.
During this reflective process, I realize the importance of complimenting my change to a growth mindset with concrete actions that enhance my commitment to personal and professional development. By actively engaging in these activities, I can further cultivate a mindset focused on continuous improvement and resilience.
As an educator, learning how to communicate with my fixed mindset voice can greatly enhance my teaching practice and enable me to embody a growth mindset. Introducing a growth mindset into professional learning can positively impact educators' lives and guide them towards achieving their goals. By doing so, educators can improve both their own personal growth and that of their students. Here are some constructive self-talk conversations that I've created to aid in my growth mindset journey as well as my colleagues.
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When and How Often Will I promote the Growth Mindset and communicate the power of "yet" to others?
As an advocate of professional development, I am committed to consistently promoting growth mindset during professional learning sessions by integrating growth mindset tools into regular discussions, assignments, and feedback opportunities.
Often people forget that adults are students too!
By emphasizing the power of "not yet" in learning and growth, I aim to encourage educators to adopt a more positive and open-minded approach to their teaching practices when tackling blended learning and learning how to implement blended learning within their classrooms. Through coaching a growth mindset, together, we can reinforce the importance of growth mindset in our professional journey and empower each other to achieve our full potential. My goal is to help educators break free from a fixed perspective by using the four-step method, coaching questions, and other resources. The resources will include inspiring videos, success stories, scholarly articles, and interactive activities that illustrate the principles of the growth mindset through active learning. Jeffrey (n.d.) stated that we are all subconsciously influenced by a fixed mindset, which is likely due to fixed mindset conditioning during childhood. Preparing for fixed mindset thinking and false growth mindset thinking in others requires intentional planning through noticing fixed mindset thinking, coaching, and monitoring it. In addition, supporting enablers is also important. Enablers are people who are committed to the status quo and need social ability to feel comfortable moving forward (Grenny et al., 2013).
Adults learners are students too!
Resources
There are numerous online resources available to learn more about growth and fixed mindsets. Here are some of my favorites!
Final Thoughts
I will approach my work with a growth mindset, meaning I will view problems as opportunities for improvement and be open to feedback. This approach will influence how I work by making time for deliberate practice and seeking additional materials to deepen my knowledge. In addition, a growth mindset will affect how I interact with teachers and peers by emphasizing teamwork, providing constructive criticism, and focusing on ongoing development. The principles of a growth mindset will also motivate me to set solid but achievable goals and to face challenges with optimism and determination. I plan to use specific techniques to maintain a growth mindset, such as deliberate reflection, seeking mentorship, and seeing failures as learning opportunities.
References
Dweck, C. S. (2007). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books.
Heggart, K. (2015, February 4). Developing a Growth Mindset in Teachers and Staff. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/developing-growth-mindset-teachers-and-staff
Staake, J. (2023, March 21). Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: A Practical Guide for Teachers. We Are Teachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/growth-mindset-vs-fixed-mindset/
Grenny, J., McMillan, R., Patterson, K., Switzler, A., & Maxfield, D. (2013). Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change, Second Edition (Paperback). McGraw-Hill Education.
Jeffrey, S. (n.d.). Change Your Fixed Mindset into a Growth Mindset [Complete Guide]. Scott Jeffrey. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://scottjeffrey.com/change-your-fixed-mindset/#A_4-Step_Process_to_Change_Your_Mindset
T. T. (2019, February 1). The Power of a Growth Mindset | Surbhi Sachdev | TEDxManipalUniversityJaipur. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpN1yQap_is
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