We will

discuss the difference between fixed and

growth mindsets
learn how mindsets influence student
achievement
understand the importance of self-efficacy,
and the role of praise in student
achievement
learn how to respond to your childs
successes and failures in a way that
promotes growth
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY MINDSET?

A mindset is a set of ideas and attitudes

that shape the way someone thinks
about themselves and the world.
Someones mindset will determine the
way they behave, their outlook on life
and their attitude towards everything
thats going on around them.
 WHATS YOUR MINDSET?

Take a few minutes to respond to this

mindset quiz.

Try not to overanalyze the questions

just respond quickly and honestly.
WHATS YOUR MINDSET?
 WHATS YOUR MINDSET?

If you scored:
22-30 Strong Growth Mindset
17-21 Growth with some fixed ideas
11-16 Fixed with some growth ideas
0-10 Strong fixed mindset
 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

According to Stanford University

psychologist Carol Dweck, success is not
determined by innate talents and
intellect. Rather, success depends upon
mindset the degree to which we
believe we have the capacity to
cultivate our intelligence and grow our
abilities.
 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Many people believe that our other

qualities creativity, artistic ability,
athleticism, personality traits are
qualities with which we are born or
not. However, Carol Dweck asserts
that any and all of these qualities
can be cultivated.
 FIXED MINDSET GROWTH MINDSET
I give up. Ill use some of the strategies I have learned.
I cant do math/science/reading. I am going to train my brain
in math, science, and reading.
I made a mistake. Mistakes help me improve.
This is too hard. This may take some time and effort.
I am not good at this. What am I missing?
Its good enough. Is this really my best work?
I cant make this any better. I can always improve. Ill keep
trying.
Ill never be as smart as him/her. I am going to figure out
what he/she does and try it.
FIXED MINDSET FOSTERS
the belief that only untalented, ungifted
people have to work for success; effort
somehow reduces you
a need for validation and reassurance in
labels (smart, talented) whether
earned or not
a desire to blame others or outside
circumstances when things dont go your
way
GROWTH MINDSET FOSTERS
a love for learning and self-improvement
a desire to be challenged
a willingness to work for positive results
a belief that you can control the outcomes
in your life with effort and practice
the ability to learn from mistakes and
failures
emotional resilience
WHAT IS SELF-EFFICACY?
Self-efficacy is the belief that you are
capable of accomplishing the things you
set out to do.

A healthy self-esteem results when a child

has a strong sense of self-efficacy. This
comes from actual earned
accomplishments, not praise.
1. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Model growth-mindset thinking with
your child.
Explain how you deal with challenges and
how you continue to learn.
Dont label yourself in ways that
demonstrate a fixed mindset:
Ive never been good at
I always had trouble in math too.
2. MODEL JOY IN LEARNING
Talk about your childs interests and how
he or she is responding to the curriculum
not just, How did you do on that test?
When discussing school, talk about learning
as a means for personal reward, growth,
intellectual challenge, and opportunity
not as a means to earn a grade.
3. SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Lowering standards does not raise self-
esteem.
Expectations should focus on habits,
effort, and growth, not grades.
Provide your child with needed supports
(extra help, additional resources).
Dont assume that he/she could do it
easily if they just tried harder.
4. BE MINDFUL OF SETTING GOALS
Work with your child to set goals that are
reasonable and desirable for both of you.
All goals should emphasize growth the
development of a skill or the expanding of
knowledge. Having innate talent is not a
goal your child can work toward.
5. PRAISE EFFORT, NOT OUTCOME.
When your child succeeds, talk about
the work that went into the success.
Praise persistence and perseverance.
Focus on the positive habits your child
practiced, and the choices she/he made
which led up to the success.
 6. FAILURES = GROWTH
Failures are a starting point and
present a positive challenge and an
opportunity to grow.
Dont shelter your child from the realities
of failure by placing blame on others.
Ask: What can you learn from
this experience? What could you try
differently the next time?
7. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM = GROWTH
Dont emphasize your childs
shortcomings or past mistakes.
Work with your child to identify
strategies for improvement.
Involve your child in the problem-solving
process, rather than focusing on failings.
8. CONCRETE PLANS = GROWTH.
If your child identifies an area of weakness
or is struggling, help your child establish a
concrete plan for improvement.
Avoid vague solutions:
Ineffective: Ill study more.
Better: Ill review my class notes nightly
and make flash cards for the difficult
concepts. Remember to follow-up and
evaluate the plans effectiveness.
9. POINT OUT THE PERSEVERANCE/EFFORT
Discuss what habits (focus, goal-setting,
daily practice, commitment) enabled the
a particular person to be so successful.
Avoid referring to people as having
natural talent or effortless ability.
Talk about famous people who failed in
their early efforts.
10. ENCOURAGE REASONABLE RISK-TAKING

The growth mindset is about being a

lifelong learner. Accepting risk and a
certain amount of failure is part of
that process.
Is there something you always wanted
to try but were afraid youd fail?
Make a plan to do it. Allow your child
to do the same.