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In November we wrote a post about the impact the mindset of a teacher can have about a student’s problem behavior. Related to this, Stanford researchers Jason Okonofua, David Paunesku and Gregory Walton recently published research demonstrating the power of teacher mindsets on student behavior.
Thank you educators for sending in your growth mindset strategies!
Grading and Assessment for a growth mindset was a common theme in your responses to our last newsletter. Many teachers wrote in about how they have innovated to create growth mindset assessment practices! We are pleased to share Rebecca Davenport's tip from Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, TN:
"My middle school girls and I coined the phrase "I'm a girl, not a grade!" to remind them of all the wonderful parts of their lives that cannot be measured by a letter grade. In school, it is easy for students to attach too much worth to the outcomes and final grades; this underestimates the importance of the learning process. When students reflect on the most important parts of their lives, they begin to understand that they are not C+ or A- people, but bright and capable young women.
Music Director, Julie Ahlborn is putting growth mindset into action!
At Reagan Academy middle school in Springville, UT, her students enter her orchestra class with only a cursory knowledge of sight reading music. She wanted them to see how much they grow in one year so that they will be motivated to continue their music studies, becoming lifelong musicians.
This letter is written by a middle school student, Ellie, who attends a school that is cultivating growth mindsets through staff development, Brainology lessons, and other site-wide efforts. The student insightfully shares HER growth mindset journey.
Ellie discusses what it is like to try to change your own mindset, and gives us a view into the mind of a really terrific kid.
Dear Mr. O,
This isn't another concern letter, I just wanted to share with you what has gone on academically in my life lately. In wellness class, science, and many other of my classes all I have heard is growth mindset, growth mindset, and growth mindset. In reality, I haven't really thought, "Wow, I can get through this problem with my growth mindset!" In wellness, I always think that my life doesn't truly depend on a growth mindset to get around. I mean, yeah, every once and a while I get a really bad score, and might need to get my growth mindset helmet on.
"Some schools actually grade students on Growth Mindset and grit. At Lenox, it doesn't make it to report cards, but kids do get evaluated on it, by other kids."
Exciting news for growth mindset schools! Tovia Smith, NPR news correspondent, visited Lenox Academy, a school in Brooklyn teaching Brainology, and talked with students, teachers and administrator Joe Giamportone.
Lenox Academy has been explicitly teaching a growth mindset for several years and has been featured here on our blog. Listen now to hear students and teachers talking about their work!