Growth Mindset Plan

While reading the book ​Mindset: The New Philosophy of Success​ I was struck by how many times a day I used
a fixed mindset. I generally think of myself as very positive and I almost always have a smile on my face. But
those things didn’t keep me from thinking more fixed thoughts during the day. I am committing to work on
adjusting my mindset to a more growth mindset. This plan will outline how I will work daily to implement the
growth mindset.

What is a Growth mindset?

To me a growth mindset is a number of things including, but not
limited to:
● The power of YET!
● Keeping the end in mind
● Progress not perfection
● It takes effort, but not all effort is equal

Why use a Growth mindset?

“​In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and
hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience
that is essential for great accomplishment.”
(Dweck, 2003)

Growth modest plan

I'm going to start my journey with the 4 step process that Dweck has outlined to her book for a growth mindset:
1. Learn to hear your fixed mindset “voice.”
2. Recognize that you have a choice.
3. Talk back to it with a growth mindset voice.
4. Take the growth mindset action.
I highly recommend reading the book if this is something that you would like to implement as well. The book
provides many examples for all different situations and ways you could have used a growth instead of fixed
mindset. My biggest takeaway was being more self aware of my thoughts and responses to situations.

I was actually introduced to the idea of growth mindset a few years ago at a teacher conference. You could say
that my mind was blown to say the least. At the time I was teaching at the lowest economic status school in
my district and every day was a battle to keep my student motivated and excited to learn. Some many doors
were closed to my students because of where they lived, who their parents were and where they went to
school. It was the growth mindset that helped me help them realize that closed doors doesn't mean the end. It
may be a window or another door but they did have options. The only things holding them back was their
mindset.

I used to start the first day of school with a digital escape room over a fixed and growth mindset. It was an
excellent way for me to meet my new students and they were actively engaged and moving instead of me
standing at the front of the room going over expectations. Those classroom expectations came later. I found
growth mindset posters in the theme or harry potter printed and posted on the wall for me to reference when
needed. The more I encouraged a growth mindset, the more my students embraced it. I had to keep it up
every day, week and month because this is a process and I will always be working to keep a growth mindset.
There are some amazing posters and infographics on the internet and teacher sites.
What should I read/ watch?
On my quest to embrace a growth mindset I started with the book Carol Dweck wrote and branched off from
their here are some videos and resources:
● A new frame of mind​ article by Bill Abbate
● A Complete Guide to Changing Your Fixed Mindset into a Growth Mindset ​by Scott Jeffery
● 10 Ways Teachers Can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students​ by Marcus Guido
● Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck​ video
● The Mindset of a Champion with Carson Byblow​ video
● What Growth Mindset Means for Kids with Rebecca Chang ​video

I’m sure you noticed that I mentioned I used to do the growth mindset digital escape room. I admit that my
want to do a growth mindset lesson was overturned by a colleague or instructional coach. So I stopped and did
what was expected of me and did expectations on the first day or school… real boring. Reading this book has
made me realize how important it is for me to continue the growth mindset in my classroom. I work on the
mindset daily, I will never fully implement a growth mindset but that doesn’t mean I will stop trying and wanting
to be better.

Bibliography

Dweck, C. S. (2003). ​Mindset: The New Philosophy of Success​. Ballantine Books.