Mindset Works’ Blog

We are pleased to share that Dr. Dweck spoke at TEDxNorrkoping in Sweden!  In this November 2014 talk, Dr. Dweck discusses a growth mindset and the power of "yet" in schools.

Read a short exerpt from her talk below!

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.

Laura Gonzalez and Cindy Sheets!

It was very hard to choose a winner! Thank you ladies for your great contirbutions and thanks to all of our participants. Read below for the winning entries to the contest: How do YOU motivate students to take on challenging tasks?  

Laura Gonzalez

Before challenging tasks, I work on fostering a mindset that will ACCEPT the challenge. I ask my students if it's all right to make mistakes. They overwhelming yell "Yes!" But is it all right not to try? and they say "No!" This calms their anxiety because they know that their efforts are what matters.

Thank you for all of your entries into the Growth Minded Educator Contest! The Growth Minded Educator of May is: Marg Hauck!  

Marg wins an autographed copy of Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success, by Carol Dweck.

Read the winning contest entry below to the question: "What is a time you made a choice to change your response to a challenge from a fixed minded response to a growth minded one?"

Last year was my third year sharing Carol Dweck's great work with my grade 5 students.

Our former Growth Mindset Educator Contest Winner, Mark Carter has been applying Dweck's research to coaching and football in the UK! This self-reflection tool helps students improve their football (soccer) skills and supports the development of a growth mindset. Nice work Mark!!

"Children can learn to learn. And teachers can help children develop the mindset of a learner. What we say, the feedback we give, how we interact, the questions we ask - these can all portray the idea that we are all on a learning journey. There is no such thing as "can't" - just "can't yet". Ministry of Football believes in working with parents to develop the traits of a Growth Mindset." -Mark Carter