Growth-Mindset-and-Maths

Growth Mindset and Maths: What is the Link Between the Two

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Growth Mindset and Maths: What is the Link Between the Two

Growth mindset- the mindset that lays more emphasis on effort rather than inherent talent, that encourages a student to try harder, overcome challenges and builds the belief that intelligence is NOT fixed but can be increased or changed.
 
Can having a growth mindset impact your mathematical abilities?
 
Short answer: yes.
 
Long answer, read on!
 

Growth Mindset and Maths: The Research

 

According to Carol Dweck, the pioneer in the field of growth mindset, “students beliefs about their intelligence played a key role in how they fared in math across this challenging school transition.” The transition, in question, referred to the study Dweck and her colleagues conducted on over 373 students who moved to 7th grade with equal prior math achievement.

 

Their study revealed “First, students with the growth mindset, compared to those with the fixed mindset, were significantly more oriented toward learning goals. Although they cared about their grades, they cared even more about learning. Second, students with the growth mindset showed a far stronger belief in the power of effort.”

 

Using Growth Mindset Training to Teach and Improve Mathematical Abilities

 

Teachers in the classroom can employ growth mindset training to actually bring about a difference in students’ math skills and abilities.

 

From viewing a struggling student as a challenge to praising students for their efforts, teachers can help learners learn the importance of effort and mistakes rather than validating their schoolwork.

 

Dweck through her research has illustrated the impact that praising effort has on developing a growth mindset so if a math teacher can praise the effort or process a child has followed instead of focusing on the mistake, there are much greater chances of a child learning to love math instead of hate it.

 

Resources for Growth Mindset and Educators

 

Whether you’re a teacher in a school or a homeschooling parent, using growth mindset training techniques will go a long way in helping you to instill a love for math in the learner.

 

Here are some resources on growth mindset and children:

 

Growth Mindset Books for Kids 

Growth Mindset Quotes for Kids 

Growth Mindset for Kids: What Your Child’s Teacher Wants You to Know

5 Growth Mindset Related Things to Teach Your Kids When They’re Not in School

 

Join the mindsetmax community on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google+ for more growth mindset training tips and ideas.

 

Growth-Mindset-Examples

Growth Mindset Examples: How Everyday Situations Create Opportunity for Learning and Progress

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Growth Mindset Examples: How Everyday Situations Create Opportunity for Learning and Progress

 

Growth mindset is a topic we have dealt with in extensive detail on this blog. From quotes to activities to habits, we’ve talked about it all.

 


Today, however, let’s look at real examples of everyday situations and how your response can be a growth mindset one rather than a fixed mindset on.

 

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Mindsetmax.com

 

Growth Mindset Examples from Everyday Situations

 

Example 1: Running late and missing the bus or car pool

 

We’ve all faced this situation. We wake up late and jump out of bed, already stressed and then, skip breakfast and coffee, hurriedly dress, rush to the curb to find that we’ve missed the bus or the car pool.

 

A fixed mindset response will be to mutter, curse and call yourself or someone else names and then, remain in a foul mood for the rest of the day.

 

A growth mindset response will be to decide to go to bed earlier tonight, set an alarm and lay out your clothes and breakfast dishes in the evening itself, so that tomorrow can be better and different.

 

Example 2: Poor feedback from the boss

 

So, you reach office and your boss calls you in to yell at you about a report you’d prepared or a project you’re handling. They think you aren’t doing a great job of it.

 

The fixed mindset response will be to beat yourself up, feel that you aren’t talented or skilled enough for the job or that your boss is a moron who has no idea what it takes, and then, spend the rest of the day cribbing and complaining and even, job hunting.

 

The growth mindset response will be to evaluate your performance, seek actual, constructive feedback that can help you improve, figure out what can be better with your project and then, do that and move on!

 

Example 3: Praising your child

 

Kids love praise and parents love giving it. So, when you’re child comes to you with an A on his math paper, you can either go the fixed mindset route and say “You’re so smart” or you can go the growth mindset way and acknowledge the effort he or she put in, saying “ Wow, you really worked hard on that paper!”

 

Example 4: Handling a new project or task

 

What is your first thought when you’re entrusted with a new project or challenge at work or even, at home. Do you think “I’m not qualified for this. I can’t do this. Numbers/tech/design are not my cup of tea.”

 

OR do you go, “Okay, let’s see how we can make this work. What do I need to bring to the table with me? How can I learn so that we can nail this?”

 

The former approach, as you may have guessed already, is the fixed mindset approach while the latter, is the growth mindset one.

 

So, the next time, you’re faced with any of these everyday situations, pause before you react and evaluate your response. Soon, thinking in a growth mindset fashion will come naturally to you and before you know it, challenges will excite you and you’ll find yourself literally growing successful.

 

Want to encourage some growth mindset activities? Check out Growth Mindset Quotes for Children,  30 More Growth Mindset Quotes and Top 15 Quotes to Inspire a Growth Mindset.

 

Are you curious about the definition of growth mindset or teaching growth mindsets to your children?

Growth-Mindset-Books-for-kids

Growth Mindset Books for Kids: The Best Reading Material to Inspire Children

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Growth Mindset Books for Kids: The Best Reading Material to Inspire Children

 

Teaching growth mindsets to kids can make a huge difference to how they learn, deal with failure or challenges and what they achieve.

 

As a result, parents and teachers worldwide are looking at ways to make growth mindset thinking the natural way of thinking for children.

 

We’ve already talked about how parents can encourage a growth mindset in kids, today let’s look at some great children’s books on growth mindset to make this easier still.

 

All these books in one way or the other, with the use of charming characters and interesting storylines, help young children to understand the importance of learning, trying and making mistakes.

 

They inspire them to be creative, imaginative and persevere as they stretch and grow, mentally and not just physically.

 

 

Top Growth Mindset Books for Kids

 

1. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

 

This delightfully illustrated book tells the story about a little girl and her very best friend and her idea of building yes, “the most magnificent thing”!

 

She’s excited and she knows what it will look like and she thinks it will be easy, but she fails, again and again.

 

She fails so much that she gets really angry and walks away. Soon she goes for a walk with her dog and then, comes back to building her magnificent thing with renewed enthusiasm and fresh energy.

 

Voila, she gets it right!

 

The book highlights the importance of being creative and persevering, of stepping back and returning with a fresh set of eyes and energy.

 

2. Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak and Sarah Ackerley 

 

A delightfully illustrated book to help children understand how their brain is structured, what functions it performs and then, most importantly, how they can stretch and grow their brains. The language is fun and easy enough for even young kids to follow along.

 

3. Beauitful Oops by Barney Saltzberg 

 

A charming and interactive book that teaches children an important lesson; that of making mistakes and seeing the adventure and creativity in them rather than being frustrated and disappointed in ourselves.

 

Filled with pop-ups, flaps, holes, tears and more, this book is a wonderful way to encourage children to be creative without the fear of messing things up!

 

4. Someday by Ellen Spinelli

 

This wonderful book is the story of Goldie, a little girl who dreams of being a famous artist, an animal scientist, an archeologist and so much more. Each page alternates with “Someday” and present day and helps her hone the skills she needs to make those goals happen.

 

Children will learn to appreciate the everyday learning opportunities that all contribute to making their “someday” goals happen.

 

These delightfully interesting, engaging and illustrated books for kids may not be specifically written from a growth mindset standpoint but they definitely bring home the key aspects of this way of thought and help children absorb it better.
 

Want to encourage some growth mindset activities? Check out Growth Mindset Quotes for Children,  30 More Growth Mindset Quotes and Top 15 Quotes to Inspire a Growth Mindset.

 

Are you curious about the definition of growth mindset or teaching growth mindsets to your children?

Growth-Mindset-Quotes-for-Moms-The Best-Ever-Inspiring-Quotations-for-Mothers

Growth Mindset Quotes for Moms: The Best Ever Inspiring Quotations for Mothers

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Growth Mindset Quotes for Moms: The Best Ever Inspiring Quotations for Mothers

Growth mindset quotes for moms can be a great way to encourage a new mother who may be feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. They’re also great reminders to every mom that no matter how, crazy our days may be, we can stay inspired, encouraged and motivated.

 

Moreover, oftentimes, moms get so caught up in caring for their kids and families that they “get stuck” and years later may feel that they had to give up on opportunities.

 

Surrounding ourselves with inspiring quotes will help create a growth mindset that’ll inspire action, progress, focus and change.

 

 

How to Use Growth Mindset Quotes

 

  • Start a quote diary and jot down inspiring mindset quotes when you come across them, like right now.
  • Read them often. Pick a quote and repeat it silently as you fold the laundry or do the dishes so that it enters your subconscious.
  • Write them on post-its and stick it on a mirror or the fridge. They’ll remind you and be encouraging to others in the household as well.

 

The Best Growth Mindset Quotes for Moms

 

1. “Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance.”~ Samuel Johnson

2. “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”~ Confucius

Growth-Mindset-Quotes-for-Moms-The-Best-Ever-Inspiring-Quotations-for-Mothers

Growth-Mindset-Quotes-for-Moms-The-Best-Ever-Inspiring-Quotations-for-Mothers

3. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”~George Bernard Shaw

4. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”~ Henry Ford

5. “When the world says, ‘Give up,’ Hope whispers, ‘Try one more time.’ “~Unknown

6. “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could … Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. “Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.”~ Franklin P. Jones

8. “When you’re in the thick of raising your kids by yourself, you tend to keep a running list of everything you think you’re doing wrong. I recommend taking a lot of family pictures as evidence to the contrary.” ~Connie Schultz

9. “Failure is not fatal, but failing to change might be.”~ John Wooden

10. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”~ Walt Disney

Growth-Mindset-Quotes-for-Moms-The-Best-Ever-Inspiring-Quotations-for-Mothers

Growth-Mindset-Quotes-for-Moms-The-Best-Ever-Inspiring-Quotations-for-Mothers

 

Looking for more inspiring growth mindset quotes?

 

Want to encourage some growth mindset activities? Check out Growth Mindset Quotes for Children,  30 More Growth Mindset Quotes and Top 15 Quotes to Inspire a Growth Mindset.

 

Are you curious about the definition of growth mindset or teaching growth mindsets to your children? Here’s some more mental health reading for Moms:

 

You may also be interested in Mental health tips for Moms and  our eBook, The Fastest Guide to Mental Health.