As a school, Wasatch Peak Academy is working to foster an environment in which hard work, persistence, and effort are valued. We want our classrooms to be full of scholars embracing new challenges, and even enjoy learning through mistakes, in order to attain higher levels of achievement. This is accomplished using a simple idea discovered by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in decades of research on achievement and success—a simple idea that makes all the difference: MINDSET.
What is a MINDSET?
Mindsets are beliefs—beliefs about yourself and your most basic qualities. Your mindset determines what you believe about your intelligence, your talents, and your personality. The mindset you have is dependent upon whether you think these qualities are simply fixed traits, carved in stone and that’s that OR things you can cultivate throughout your life through hard work and dedication. Your mindset determines your learning experiences and success in all aspects of life. There are two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.
The Fixed Mindset In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are fixed. They spend their time trying to prove their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. Unfortunately, they're wrong.
Furthermore, people with a fixed mindset believe that their traits are just givens. They have a certain amount of brains and talent and nothing can change that. If they have a lot, they’re all set, but if they don’t, there's nothing they can do about it. People in the fixed mindset worry about their traits and how adequate they are. They feel they have something to prove to themselves and others. These beliefs often limit achievement and hinder people from reaching their fullest potential. The Growth Mindset In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through perseverance and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.
People with a growth mindset embrace challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow their skills. Contrary to the fixed mindset, growth mindset thinkers learn from mistakes and see effort as a necessary to achieve mastery. see their qualities as things that can be developed through their dedication and effort. |
Applying The Growth Mindset at WPA
At WPA, teachers, administration, and staff are working tirelessly on fostering the growth mindset in our students. Teaching a growth mindset enhances motivation and productivity in life. Specifically in school, a growth mindset allows students the opportunity to achieve more, learn from mistakes, and, most importantly, cultivate a love of learning. As a parent, you have the wonderful opportunity to also influence your child's mindset. Fostering a growth mindset involves changing your words and thoughts to create an accepting atmosphere in which hard work is valued and expected. Check out the chart below for examples of how to change your words to change your mindset.
Want to learn more? Read the book!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND everyone read the book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck. This book expertly outlines the two mindsets, the benefits of creating a growth mindset, and gives concrete steps and tips to changing your mindset to enhance your life. It's an easy read that is sure to change the way you approach praise, criticism, effort, and achievement. Also, check out the presentation below to see how your students are thinking about the GROWTH MINDSET in Room 12. (discussed in class during the first week of school)
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Sources:
http://mindsetonline.com/whatisit/about/
http://nigelholmes.com/graphic/two-mindsets-stanford-magazine/