A growth mindset, as proposed by psychologist Carol Dweck, fosters the attitude that intelligence and skill are acquired through effort, not innate abilities. On the flip side, a fixed mindset suggests that you are inherently good or bad at certain things. Learning plays a minimal role with a fixed mindset, while work and effort are integral to a growth mindset. Of course, as parents and educators, we all want to foster a growth mindset.
It’s an attitude that certainly pays off in a student’s long term achievements. Last week, I wrote about The Importance of ‘Not Yet‘. This phrase acknowledges the student may not have achieved mastery YET but leaves the door open for future success with a subject or skill. It’s what many homeschoolers have done for years, looking for mastery – true understanding – before progressing to the next level
This is all great. But when you step back and take a look at this philosophy, you might see it as a recipe for disaster.
“You can learn this math! All you need is to spend 12 hours a day working on it.”
Well, no. And really, I don’t think any of us would really take it that far. But how do you help your student succeed when you ask for more work on a subject they find difficult? I think it’s helpful to apply these four steps for success with a growth mindset.
Find the Best Path
Life would be incredibly hard and frustrating in your house if you expected your student to work endlessly on a difficult task. Hard work alone isn’t enough. You may need to review previously learned information, try a different curriculum, get an assessment for a learning disability, or perhaps have your student take a three-day or even a three-week break from it all so they can return to it with more energy.
As with all parenting, there’s no magic formula. You’re going to need to sort out the best path for each of your children. (Unfortunately, what works for one usually doesn’t work for the others.) You may choose one of the above solutions, something entirely different, or you might need to simply persevere and avoid making a big deal out of it if you’re not seeing immediate progress. Which brings me to my next point…
Be Patient
To me, a growth mindset involves a lot of patience. You have to be willing to commit for the long haul. My favorite story to illustrate this is about one of my nephews. He read at a first-grade level up through fourth grade. My sister patiently continued to work with him and read aloud to him as much as possible. Then, in fifth grade, he read the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy on his own and became an avid and fluent reader. Today, that same nephew has a Ph.D. in physics. So… practice patience. It really does work.
Involve the Student
Ultimately, you want your student to have an understanding of the growth mindset. When they’re old enough, it can be helpful to have them watch Dweck’s TED talk. Explain why it’s important to recognize hard work, not just achievements. Why grades aren’t necessarily that important.
Model a Growth Mindset
Finally, think about how you can model a growth mindset. I alluded to this in my post on ‘Not Yet’. It wouldn’t hurt for you to challenge yourself to grow in an area that you find difficult. Pick something you’ve always wished you could do. Then work at it. You don’t even need to say, “Hey, look at what I’m achieving with hard work”. Kids are pretty smart. They may not tell you how amazing you are but I guarantee they’ll see what you’re doing and follow suit.
