Growth Mindset Plan

In life, with the passage of time, we set goals and dreams to achieve. While continuing the road, many times we must change our plans. As I look back, becoming a teacher was not in my plans. Rather, I thought I was going to stay in the health area. I accepted the challenge of becoming a teacher since I had always liked working with kids. I come from a family of educators and this gave me an idea of what I would face. In order to rise to this challenge, it is necessary to have a growth mindset and to understand what it entails.

Growth Mindset and its importance

Having a growth mindset is essential for success. A growth mindset, as conceived by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck and colleagues, is the belief that a person's capacities and talents can be improved over time. Carol Dweck discusses the growth mindset in her work, "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" (Dweck, 2006). The book takes us on a journey into how our conscious and unconscious thoughts affect us. Efforts to foster a growth mindset in students have gained traction in many schools across the country. Many studies have aimed to assess whether mindset interventions offer measurable improvements in student achievement.Growth mindsets understand the importance of persistence and determination. By changing the way you think, you can change the way you learn.

Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset meanings

In a fixed mindset, people believe that they are born talented or not. Most of the time they are closed in thinking that they are naturally good at something, or they are not. People with a fixed mindset seek to validate themselves through others.

People with a growth mindset believe talent arises from effort and dedication to a goal. Anyone can achieve their goal, they just must persevere, have a positive attitude, and look for the necessary tools in order to be successful. People with a growth mindset are focused on developing themselves, always seeking to improve and surpass themselves no matter how many times they must try as they take failures as opportunities to improve.

There are four steps that Dr. Dweck refers to that we would like to introduce as they are very helpful:

1- Learn to hear your fixed mindset “voice.”

Knowing how to recognize that we have a fixed mentality helps us to be able to safely recognize that inner voice that most of the time is the one that tells us or makes us doubt our goals.

2- Recognize that you have a choice.

We must decide to get out of that fixed state which we entered and make the decision to move to a place of growth and new opportunities.

3- Talk back to it with a growth mindset voice.

As you set new goals and challenges for yourself, the fixed mindset may want to stifle you, although we are not sure of the results, we are willing to learn and dedicate our best effort to reach the goal.”I don’t know yet, but I will after I learn it.”

4- Take the growth mindset action.

When you listen to the voice of the fixed mindset and make the decision to respond with a growth mindset, you will know the measures to take to continue and reach the goal set.

After sharing what a growth mindset is, its importance and the differences between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, I plan to foster a growth mindset among students interested in being part of the STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). The objective is to develop the skills and mentality necessary for personal and educational growth in students, thus leading them to achieve their goals.

An effective way to communicate a growth mindset can be to devote a formal lesson to it. Of course, there are many ways to do so. Here, we provide a sample growth mindset lesson plan. In the classroom, the following strategies will be incorporated to prepare and direct students to a growth mindset which will be beneficial for them when participating in the STEM program:

Each day will include daily warm-up activities such as: growth mindset video reflections or self awareness readings, other activities to stimulate the brain and critical thinking.

Weekly: The use of success folders will be implemented in the classroom. Students can create the folders and add personal examples of successful learning experiences each week. Such examples may come in the form of tests, exercises, and completed assignments in which a student has shown growth in class. Folders are physical evidence of growth and can be powerful tools when used in educational settings.

Monthly: The students will have one day a month on which they can share all the experiences and what they have learned during the month, including their success folders. In this way, students will be able to understand and know that they are not alone in their processes.

Parents: You will be sent a newsletter with what students are working on in class and how to help them at home to keep working and nurturing their growth mindset.

In conclusion, a growth mindset is important for both teachers and students. It encourages that things can be achieved with dedication and perseverance. Adopting a growth mindset will transform our lives and the approach we are directed to. We will view challenges and tests as opportunities for learning and growing. The objective is to create a transformative learning environment for students, where they are shown a mindset that helps them succeed in life. By fostering a growth mindset in students interested in the STEM program, we contribute to the development of their abilities and skills to the fullest. They will be ready to face challenges that the future brings.

References:

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

Dweck, C. (2015). Carol Dweck Revisits the ‘Growth Mindset’. Education Week. http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/09/23/carol-

dweck-revisits-the-growth-mindset.html.

Jeffrey, S. (n.d). A Complete Guide to Changing Your Fixed Mindset into a Growth Mindset. https://scottjeffrey.com/change-your-fixedmindset/#How_to_Change_Your_Mindset.

Tiffany Sauber Millacci, Ph.D. How to Nurture a Growth Mindset in Kids: 8 Best Activities https://positivepsychology.com/growth-mindset-for-kids/#google_vignette