Key takeaways
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Growth mindset is the belief that intelligence can be expanded and developed over time rather than being a fixed trait that either you have or you don’t.
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People with a growth mindset are more likely to outperform those with a fixed mindset.
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There are a variety of ways teachers can support the development of a growth mindset in students in the classroom.
Research shows that developing a growth mindset results in a wide variety of positive benefits, but it is not easy or quick. Children, in particular, often have a difficult time developing a growth mindset because it requires them to be vulnerable and shift a mindset that has been ingrained into them over time. Educators play a key role in helping students to make this mindset shift, but first, they themselves must develop a growth mindset. Before diving into specific examples of developing a growth mindset as an educator and strategies for helping students in your classroom develop one as well, let’s take a look at some of the more foundational aspects of this concept.
What is a growth mindset in teaching?
A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence is not finite or a fixed trait but can be expanded and developed over time. A person with a growth mindset views challenges or obstacles as opportunities for learning rather than a roadblock that cannot be overcome. They value effort and the learning process over the outcome; they embrace mistakes as part of the learning process, and they believe in the power of “yet,” as in “I have not mastered this concept YET.”
The opposite of a growth mindset is a fixed mindset – one in which intelligence is finite. You either “get” math or you don’t. You’re either a history person or you’re not. In the case of the fixed mindset, there is no room for growth. You either have it, or you don’t, and if you don’t, there’s nothing that can be done.
In the classroom, teachers play a key role in either helping students to develop a growth mindset or keeping them stuck in a fixed mindset. Much of this depends on the teacher’s mindset, who naturally sets the tone for the classroom environment.
What are the benefits of having a growth mindset in teaching?
Research highlights the multitude of benefits that having a growth mindset can have for people. This is especially true for educators because of the domino effect that having a teacher with a growth mindset can have for students in the classroom.
Because people with a growth mindset are more likely to challenge themselves and believe they can accomplish anything, they tend to outperform those with a fixed mindset. They celebrate and take inspiration from the success of others rather than feeling threatened by it. Additionally, they are often more resilient and creative problem solvers because perseverance is a key benefit of having a growth mindset.
Over time, people who develop a growth mindset begin to view effort as necessary for mastery and thus demonstrate higher levels of intrinsic motivation and a desire for self-improvement. They learn to accept and learn from criticism and grow to depend upon constructive criticism from others.
For teachers, these traits are especially important, as they work to hone their craft and cultivate a classroom environment where learners can develop a growth mindset as well. A classroom full of learners with a growth mindset will feel very different from a classroom where a fixed mindset is prevalent. Additionally, the growth and achievement of the students in those classrooms will also vary dramatically.
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How do you develop a growth mindset in teaching?
To develop a growth mindset in teaching, educators must be willing to try new activities, learn from the process, and engage in a cycle of continuous improvement where feedback leads to reflection and reflection leads to growth.
Reflection, self-evaluation, and self-awareness are critical components in developing a growth mindset. A person must be open to receiving positive feedback, as well as constructive criticism, and understand that this feedback is key to learning and growing. Goal setting is also an important step in this process, and one that serves as a guide for the overall development of a growth mindset.
Educators who are working toward developing a growth mindset should also take the time to examine where they place value – is it on achievement or effort? Do they believe that there are “math” people and “reading” people? A close examination of these values and beliefs will be useful in planning the tone of the classroom environment they want to create for students, and further reflection and self-evaluation may be necessary if those values and beliefs don’t align with a growth mindset.
A variety of professional development resources can be found online to support educators in building some of the skills mentioned in this section.
What are examples of having a growth mindset in teaching?
There are many things you can do, as an educator, to cultivate a growth mindset mentality in your classroom. Here are just a few examples to get you thinking about your own classroom.
Talk About It
Plan a mini-lesson to introduce the concept of a growth mindset to students. Once they have a basic understanding, model and point out ways a growth mindset can be developed as opportunities arise naturally in the classroom. For instance, if a student says, “I’m just not good at this” during a particularly challenging lesson, use that as an opportunity to shift their mindset by talking about growth mindset and how mastery can be developed over time.
Model Effort and Perseverance
View your role as the classroom facilitator as a constant opportunity to model effort and perseverance for students. Of course, there will be times when you will be challenged as an educator. Demonstrate for students that, during those times, giving up is not an option. Show them how to overcome obstacles that arise and celebrate the hard work that goes into mastering a concept.
Define What Success Looks Like in Your Classroom
At the beginning of the year, be very clear with students in defining what success looks like in your classroom. It is critical that they understand, from the start, that success does not just look like an A in your class. Provide students with examples of how success might look different, for different students, throughout the year. Perhaps success looks like extraordinary effort (not necessarily achievement) on a spelling test by a student who rarely studies. For another student, success might be graciously losing at a partner math game rather than letting it ruin the rest of their day. Whatever success looks like, be sure to celebrate it as a group.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Asking open-ended questions moves the heavy lifting of learning from the teacher to the student by allowing them the opportunity to think critically while also encouraging their natural curiosity. This puts the student in the driver’s seat, resulting in higher levels of autonomy, competence, and engagement.
Praise Student Effort
An important component of developing a growth mindset is receiving constant feedback. One way this can easily be done in the classroom is by making praise a natural and regular part of your classroom culture. Be sure that you aren’t only praising student outcomes, though. While feedback on assessments and other finished work is important, positive reinforcement of effort and perseverance is equally important and encouraging for students.
Provide Consistent and Timely Feedback to Students
Feedback, both positive and constructive, is key to developing a growth mindset. This feedback should be given consistently, both formally and informally. Additionally, feedback should be given in a timely manner. Don’t make students wait a month after turning in an essay to receive feedback. Provide feedback as soon as possible and give students the opportunity to reflect and improve their work based on that feedback.
Use a Variety of Instructional Strategies
When working to develop a growth mindset, it is natural to achieve success quickly in some areas while struggling or feeling challenged in others. By using a variety of instructional strategies in your teaching, you support the needs of all students in the classroom and give them the best chance at success.
Make Learning Meaningful
When learning connects to real life or something meaningful to students, engagement and retention increase. Students become more curious and intrinsically motivated to learn. These are all important components of developing a growth mindset.
Provide Students with Opportunities for Practice
Just like anything we teach students, we must allow them time and opportunities for practice. Developing a growth mindset takes time. Support students in this endeavor by providing them opportunities each day to be challenged, learn from their mistakes, and seek feedback.
Respond to Student Struggle in a Productive Manner
Be intentional in how you respond to a student struggling in the classroom. To facilitate the development of a growth mindset, it’s critical to create a classroom environment where it is safe to make mistakes and struggle. Your words and actions, as well as those of the other students or adults in the classroom, determine the type of mindset being cultivated.
Encourage Student Goal Setting
Teachers have so many opportunities to encourage students to set goals. Whether the goals relate to reading, math facts, or formative assessments, capitalize on these opportunities and celebrate the small successes along the way. This is how growth and the power of “yet” become visible to students.
Ensure Assessments Support the Cycle for Continuous Improvement
When planning classroom assessments, be sure to consider the cycle for continuous improvement. Use a variety of informal and formal assessments that allow students the opportunity to reflect and improve upon their work.
Discovery Education offers a variety of professional development solutions that improve educator knowledge, confidence, and impact on student learning. Their professional learning options include in-person, virtual, and hybrid sessions that are tailored to district needs and goals and the Everyday Teaching Essentials online library of short, actionable online resources that fit into educators’ busy schedules.
