This week in class, we discussed a lot about growth mindset
versus fixed mindset and the importance of having a growth mindset.
First off, I would like to point out some differences
between having a growth versus fixed mindset. When one has a growth mindset she/he:
- embraces challenge,
- realizes mistakes are okay to make,
- realizes she/he improves by having gone through the
experience,
-believes that her/his ability can grow and she/he can
become better (Small, pp. 5).
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| Lu, J. (2017, May 18). Growth vs Fixed Mindset [Online Image]. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/2f5BsaA |
Compared to a fixed mindset, which is when one:
-shies away from challenges in fear of failing.
-relates mistakes to being stupid
-is quick to blame others for his/her failures
-is embarrassed by his/her failures (i.e. shying away from a
problem because he/she got it wrong last time).
In my opinion, it is important to have a growth mindset as
both a teacher and a student. On one hand, teachers must have a growth mindset
in order to foster one in their students. As teachers, we want the best for our
students and having a growth mindset sets the stage for students to be able to
tackle any problem and handle it constructively. On the other hand, it is
important for students to have a growth mindset because we know we are always learning
no matter our age, exemplified by finding different ways to solve one problem.
This mindset applies not only to mathematics, but also to
all subject areas of teaching. As teachers, we need to ensure our students feel
safe to make mistakes. We can do that by building on students' mistakes to
steer them in the right direction to understanding, instead of scolding them
for getting it wrong. We can create a safe and inviting classroom environment
where every student is aware of his or her own voice and feels heard. Most
importantly, we can continuously encourage our students to try and not give up,
no matter how hard or impossible it may seem.
You have to be 'odd'
to be number one!
References
Small, M. (2017). Making
Math Meaningful to Canadian Students K-8, (3rd ed.). Nelson Education.
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