Maybe you’ve heard teachers or administrators talking about a growth mindset and not quite understood what they were talking about. Some common questions we hope to answer in this article are: What is a growth mindset? Why is it important? What is the difference between a growth mindset and fixed mindset? How can a growth mindset change my way of thinking and my learning?

What is the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset?

In a growth mindset, people will believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. They also believe that brains and talent are just the starting point. When you have a growth mindset, this view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment in life.  Growth mindset will help you go to the next level!

In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are just fixed traits. There is no change and never will be. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success, without any kind of effort.

What are common characteristics of a growth mindset?

Individuals with a growth mindset will recognize that setbacks are a necessary part of the learning process and are normal and necessary to move forward to the next level. Individuals with a growth mindset also: 

• Embrace lifelong learning. Learning never stops. Learning makes you grow!

• Believe skills can be improved. You will always learn new things and learning those new things are important to move to the next level. 

• Put in more effort to learn. Success in life isn’t easy, but it’s worth the work!

• Believe effort leads to mastery. When you push yourself and learn you then can become a master at that task and teach others.

• Believe failures are just temporary setbacks.

• View feedback as a source of information. Don’t think of feedback as negative; use it to help you grow.

• Willingly embrace challenges. Challenges are what take you to the next level in your learning. 

• View others’ success as a source of inspiration. Remember you can also get there with more hard work. 

What are characteristics of a fixed mindset?

People with a fixed mindset believe individual traits can’t change, no matter how much effort you put in. They are are more likely to:

• Believe intelligence and talent are static. They don’t change. 

• Avoid challenges to avoid failure. Make life easy, so you won’t ever fail.

• Ignore feedback from others. They believe it’s safer to keep doing what you’re doing!

• Feel threatened by the success of others. Someone else’s success is my failure. 

• Hide flaws so as not to be judged by others. 

• Believe putting in effort is worthless. Always take the easy way out.  

• View feedback as personal criticism.

• Give up easily.

Why is a growth mindset important?

Teaching a growth mindset to those as young as junior high school can result in increased motivation and academic performance not only in the classroom but in making lifelong choices that will benefit them for years to come. Growth mindset tends to be particularly beneficial for students studying science and mathematics. Students that believe in a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, can have higher grades in mathematics, languages, and overall a higher grade point average(GPA). There are also additional benefits of a growth mindset, which can include: 

• Reduce workload burnout. 

• Fewer psychological problems and a feeling of depression.

• Fewer behavioral problems, not only in the classroom, but in life.

How can I incorporate a growth mindset into my life?

If you want to change your fixed mindset to a growth mindset, here are some suggestions and perspective shifts to try out:

• View challenges as opportunities. Challenges are ways for us to grow.

• Stop seeking approval 

• Try different learning tactics. We all learn differently, so find what works for you, not your friend. 

• Acknowledge and embrace imperfections. If you always hide from  your weaknesses,  you will never overcome them. 

• Celebrate growth with others and let others share your growth with you.

• Emphasize growth over speed. It’s not a race. We all learn at different times and at a different pace. Just keep learning!

• Reward actions, not traits. Tell students that a specific action they completed was smart, instead of telling them they are smart. Sometimes the wording can make a big difference!

• Place effort before talent. Hard work should always be rewarded.

• Use the word “yet.” When you see students struggling with a task, just tell them they haven’t mastered it yet. Doing this will lead students to believe that they still can master that task or skill 

• Learn from other people’s mistakes. It’s never a good idea to compare yourself to others, but it is important to realize that we share similar challenges at one time or another. If you see someone making a mistake, take that as an opportunity to learn rather than criticize.

• Take ownership over your attitude. Once you develop a growth mindset, own up to it. Acknowledge yourself as someone who possesses a growth mentality and be proud to let it guide you throughout your educational career.

• Think realistically about time and effort. It takes time to learn. It doesn't happen overnight. Keep on trying, and you will achieve your goals! 

• Make a new goal for every goal accomplished. Just because you learned that goal, doesn’t mean you're done. Onto the next goal.

• Provide regular opportunities for reflection. Always reflect on the “how” and the “why”. Doing this will help you achieve your goals and understand how and why you achieved them.

We here at CHT always approach our tutoring sessions with a growth mindset. We hope you’ll try out some of these strategies and enjoy the positive changes in your learning and attitude that happen over time.

About the author:

Carla Martinucci has a Master in Reading and a Master in Special Education. She is licensed as a learning behavior specialist and reading specialist has been teaching for over 25 years.