How many of you have heard a student say "I can't learn this" or "I'm just not good at math (or any other subject)"? Many of our students are stuck in a "Fixed Mindset" and just give up, not understanding that with effort they can learn! A student's mindset has a direct impact on their success, in school and in future endeavors.
Below is a powerpoint highlighting the differences between fixed and growth mindsets. It would be interesting to see where your own mindset is...what effect do our words have on our students' mindset? I also found a quiz that the students can take and put in their Interactive Notebooks if they have one. It would be a great Week 1 activity for next year. In lieu of a professional learning day, I would appreciate seeing your comments about the powerpoint and/or quiz on here. There may be a drawing for a "Sweet" surprise for those that participate:)
30 Comments
S. Martin
2/9/2016 11:03:42 pm
I like this PowerPoint. I try to preach this every day, as I see that many of our students seem to have been told their whole life (often by family) that "[they] don't test well", they "don't do well in school", they "just aren't extremely intelligent". The kids buy it, unfortunately. A student told me recently "I don't test well" after making a 40-something on a quiz; I can only imagine where he got that idea. So I called him on it. I asked him to be honest and tell me how much time he had spent studying for the quiz outside of class, and he said "10 to 15 minutes". I told him that he might "test" better if he prepared better (effort). Most people are a product of their environment, and I commend our Teachers for trying to overcome a lifetime of negativity that many of our students have faced. We should raise the bar and tell students what they can do with the right effort, but many people in their lives have sold them on what they can't do and lowered the bar so they don't fail at anything ... supposedly out of 'love', but I believe in the long run it hurts the child.
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S. Martin
2/10/2016 12:16:58 am
I believe students, over time, will put forth the effort and rise to the level of what's expected of them. My parents "expected" me to do well in school, really wouldn't accept less than that. Therefore, I never really knew there was an alternative. I put forth the effort required to meet or exceed expectations ... if that meant staying after a math class to ask the teacher for help or clarification, that's what I did ... if I had to study 2 hours to make an 'A' on a test, that's what I did, because that's what was expected. I'd be the first to admit I wasn't always the "smartest" in some subjects, but I put forth more effort than some and worked harder. It frustrates me to see a kid walk out of class and he/she knowing they don't understand something, and being okay with that and almost resigning themselves to the fact that they don't know and being okay with it. It kind of comes down to personal pride and expectations ... if they have expectations of themselves to do well, then they will put forth the effort to do well.
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Ashley Summers
2/10/2016 09:34:44 am
In response to Scott's, I think many students do not put forth very much effort because they have never really had to. Many will complain if something seems challenging, but are later pleased when they realize they worked through the situation and utilized problem solving skills.
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Pam Puryear
2/11/2016 07:59:18 am
It is so important for students who are entering the work force to have a growth mindset. Many go in to employment with a fixed mindset and think that if they can not perform the job requirements then they need to find another job. Employers want employees that are willing to learn and grow and adapt to their surroundings. I am constantly reminding students that they are to go in to employment with "open minds" and be willing to learn to do any task that is set before them. I thought the PowerPoint was on target with many of our students. And many students who might not be an "A" student at school have been highly successful in the work force. They are excited to tell me when they have gotten a raise at work or when they have done something and been bragged on by their supervisor or boss. I try to always set the bar high and when students are sent to job interviews or to apply for jobs I expect for them to be the best.
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Hannah Mayo
2/11/2016 08:14:31 am
I thoroughly enjoyed the power point; I think this is so true and relevant to the majority of the students we teach. When students believe they can learn something, their ability to achieve and attain increases. I think a lot of our students struggle with confidence and belief they can accomplish things; therefore, they become a self-fulfilling prophecy and exert little effort. I see this with my athletes at times; they don't believe they are capable of learning or playing a certain way which results in that becoming true for them. However, when they see success, they will buy in to what they are being taught and their improvement grows by leaps and bounds. I have seen this in the classroom and on the court.
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Zach Talley
2/11/2016 09:39:11 am
I, like Scott, Hannah, Pam & Ashley find that fixed mindset a very common one among our students. Wherever that has come from: parents, teachers, peers or just a generational ethic, I really believe we need to combat this as much as possible. I talk to students every day about that very thing. These are, as Pam said, lessons that need to translate to the post-high school life (college or workforce). It is so disheartening to see kids hang their heads &, as Scott commented, just resign themselves to the "I don't know this, now; therefore, I'll never know it..." philosophy. I keep on pushing with these kids to buy in to the belief that their EFFORT DOES MATTER; if it didn't, then doing ANYTHING is pointless...I'm actually having my classes take this survey, to promote a stronger sense of accountability & self-control. It give me an opportunity to address as a class, what I address with individuals on a daily basis.
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Dana Ford
2/11/2016 10:01:17 am
I'd love to hear what they thought after taking the survey!
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Dianne Fetzer
2/11/2016 09:40:17 am
Love, love, love the PowerPoint! I think effort is extremely important. I believe our students could do so much more if they only thought they could. Unfortunately, (not really), I teach a subject that seems to provoke the ability mindset more than others. I hate that students feel that way. How in the world they could think that math was not important is beyond me. I tell them almost everyday that math flexes their brain just like exercise for their body. How I wish I could teach them to persevere in problem solving.
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Dana Ford
2/11/2016 10:00:20 am
Mrs. Fetzer, I really like what you said about flexing the brain like exercise for the body. Our students need to understand that the brain can be "stretched like a muscle" and they are not limited by what they already know.
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Andrea Morrow
2/11/2016 11:34:16 am
I second Dana's comment: our students are lucky to have each of you and I think it would be interesting to hear what the students think in regards to Slide 31.
Natalie Bruce
2/11/2016 11:49:24 am
I had a growth mindset with fixed ideas. (36)
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Brittney Adams
2/11/2016 01:11:26 pm
I found this powerpoint very interesting. The students usually complain when we ask them to apply themselves and think outside the box. I feel that comes from many places, starting with their home and the early years in school. From talking to many parents, the first words from their mouth is usually "my child is not good at math and hasn't ever been good at math." Without support and pushing from home, many of our students give up and don't persevere. Or they think math is not important. I try to explain that math is EVERYWHERE!
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Lori Townsend
2/11/2016 01:23:41 pm
I enjoyed reading the PPT also. Students need to know the brain can stretch and grow and students can learn more. We as teachers have to cultivate and challenge the students and require them to think outside the box so they can gain additional knowledge. Students have to be believe in themselves and push themselves. They have to realize they can achieve higher levels.
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Debbie Hahn
2/11/2016 02:47:55 pm
I enjoyed the power point! It really has some relevant information.I will be interested to see what student responses to slide #31 will be.I agree with Pam and Dianne's comments. The questions made me think about what my responses would have been at age 14 vs. age 21 and becoming a nurse. I feel so blessed that I was raised in a family that encouraged me to believe and achieve.
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Shelby Zeigler
2/11/2016 02:52:21 pm
I am fortunate to be in a subject that is "easier" to validate in their minds. They understand the importance of reading and writing. However, I did have a conversation with a student about the importance of American Literature. He said he already learned the writing skills he needed like email, letters, etc. in an elective course. Reading long texts is a "waste of his time". However, I try to stress what we can learn from fiction about the time period and honestly about life. Sadly, I do not think some of our students can see how the decisions they make now will affect them greatly in the future. I hope we can change this culture in our building.
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Wendy Owens
2/11/2016 05:46:44 pm
Unlike Natalie, I took the test AFTER I read the slideshow. My score is 44 (growth mindset with fixed ideas). That really surprised me considering how stubborn I am!
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Gina Linder
2/11/2016 06:45:33 pm
I think we can all relate to our students when it comes to struggling with a "growth mind-set" for things we are not confident in doing. It takes practice and effort to overcome that mind-set, and I am glad our students have teachers like you to support them while changing mindsets and lives.
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Aleatha Plott
2/12/2016 08:00:14 am
Really liked this-how great it would be if we taught all students as if they were gifted!
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Joel Brown
2/12/2016 12:05:27 pm
This was a great reminder of how we all deal with failure. I forwarded this ppt to my older daughters and my staff at my Army unit. I for sure place too much emphasis on tests and I'm sure many of my students feel like failures if they don't do well. Student just like athletes need to know the only shame in failure is not getting back up and learning from it.
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Terri Lynch
2/12/2016 12:25:01 pm
There were students that I met in college who were smarter than me but they didn't graduate. There are many of my former students (very intelligent by the way) who started college and didn't finish. Most of the time, it really comes down to a willingness to endure!
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Will Queen
2/12/2016 03:32:20 pm
I stress the same sentiment as your last sentence to my seniors all the time. I want them to go to college with their eyes wide open: they, and only they, are the ones responsible for how well they do when they get there. Having a growth mind-set will help them overcome the inevitable difficulties they face when they struggle in ways they perhaps never did in high school.
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Brooke Young
2/12/2016 03:27:40 pm
The growth mindset is so crucial for learning another language. It comes easier to some students than others, but all will have to learn to embrace making mistakes if they are ever going to be bilingual. I loved the classroom example with the emphasis on "making mistakes" as part of the process. I'm always giving my students examples of silly and embarrassing mistakes I have made in an attempt to lower their inhibitions. I think I need a bulletin board similar to the one in the example.
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Dana Ford
2/12/2016 05:03:09 pm
Brooke, I will have an example of that bulletin board outside my office if I can ever get it finished!
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Dana Ford
2/23/2016 11:20:20 am
Great idea, Jennifer! I will definitely share with the Academic Coaches at our next meeting.
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Jennifer Plemons
2/22/2016 03:00:16 pm
I couldn't agree with all of you so much.... the mindset of our students is so hard to change at times. But it needs to start from the beginning, if not at home then in the elementary and middle schools as well. Once our students get to the high school it is like a never ending battle with them, I feel at times I care more about their averages then they do.
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Wade Owens
2/22/2016 04:20:47 pm
Even our gifted students if they try their hardest imagine how much more they could achieve. To me Micheal Jordan is the greatest example they could use because he did not refuse to practice and instead worked out before games, spent countless hours on the court, and never was content when he got to the top he continued to improve and grow. Same with our students one they can grow and improve. Those that excel and reach our standards should be encouraged to achieve even more if every great inventor was content with just meeting standards we would not have indoor pluming and ridding houses to work. It all comes back to what my father told me when i was a little boy "can't never could do nothing".
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Nancy Adams
3/10/2016 04:17:40 pm
I have special education students who will give 120% effort, and I have often wondered what would happen if we could get the average or gifted kid to give 120%. Then, we would truly be able to forward.
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Marco Burgueno
2/23/2016 02:54:45 pm
I definitely believe that all students can learn, but that for some it takes a little more effort than others. Its something I try to push with students who struggle with learning some concepts. There is nothing wrong with struggling to get something as long as you are putting for effort to learn/master it. It is a bigger deal if you don't put forth any effort at all.
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Kristle Holcomb
2/24/2016 07:46:18 am
Like the saying says, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Many students simply do not want to put in any effort. If it does not come easily then they don't want to bother with it. I have to remind students that they can do anything that their peers can but sometimes we have to find a different way for it to work for them. No child is unable to learn, we simply have to teach the way that they learn and let them know that it's okay to attempt things in a different way. If an example doesn't make sense to you then we will try another one. Practice makes permanent and we have to motivate our students to practice until it becomes easy.
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Nancy Adams
3/10/2016 04:12:05 pm
I had a wonderful peer tell me the next part of that statement, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink...." Gwen Bailey (many may know her from Gladden Middle School) said, "salt the oats." We have a student population who is excuse oriented. The solution of "greater effort" will equal "greater success" needs to be ingrained early. This needs to begin with the expectations of society and home.
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