According to Dweck, there are a few things teachers can do to help develop a growth mindset in their students. One is to emphasize the importance of effort. Students need to understand that hard work and dedication lead to success, not just natural ability. Another is to provide opportunities for students to struggle in a safe environment. This allows them to see that mistakes are not something to be embarrassed about and are part of the learning process. Finally, praising students for their effort and progress is essential, rather than simply telling them they are smart or talented. I feel praising students is extremely important because some students need more time than others to accomplish goals. Therefore they will need more praise and encouragement along the way.
One way I will model the growth mindset, and the message of "Yet" to young learners is to use the language myself. For example, when I make a mistake, I will say, "I made a mistake, but I'm going to learn from it and do better next time." I plan to encourage students to use this language when they make mistakes. Another strategy I plan to use to model the growth mindset is to talk about how I always learn new things and how I don't know everything yet. This will help students see that everyone has something they can learn and that it's okay not to know everything. Finally, I will create opportunities for students to practice using a growth mindset by giving them problems to solve that are challenging but not impossible.
Dweck, C. S. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books.
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