Growth Mindset

I had never heard of Carol Dweck before watching the Growth Mindset videos, but I read a lot about her afterwards because I was so inspired. She started off her TedTalk so strongly by talking about the "Power of Yet". She explains how one school in Chicago gives students the grade "not yet" if they do not make the grade needed to complete the course. This grade "not yet" has so much more positive power on students than an "F" because they can understand that although they were given a "not yet", they still have the potential to one day, reach a completion grade. Whereas, with the grade of an "F", students defeat themselves by thinking of themselves as failures and therefore, possibly never reaching their full potential. Fear is not a good motivator, but positive reinforcement is in the long run.

Throughout my own schooling, I would say this idea of growth mindset must be true because I have only ever felt more defeated when I receive a failing grade. Even making a "B" can be defeating in the student's mind. I feel that if I had the "not yet" grade applied to my circumstances, I would feel that I had more potential than I had ever given myself credit for in life. 

(Found on Pinterest by Michelle Shuman)

I liked this picture because it really explains how we have to grow our minds (growth mindset project) in order to achieve our full potential. This highlights both positive and negative things we might tell ourselves, but it phrases them all in ways that our mind can interpret as positive reinforcement.