Although it seems like kids don't ever pay attention to the words that come out of your mouth, they actually do listen to what you have to say. Teachers often use praise to motivate and recognize students for the work they do. However, the praise that we give students can have negative effects if it's not the right kind of praise.
In classrooms with a fixed mindset, students think that their natural ability to learn is the most important thing. They don't consider hard work as something that will impact their grades and learning. Do you have apathetic kids who don't seem to care? Perhaps they don't really think their effort is tied to the learning they are doing--they just feel like it's pointless to try because they will never "get it" anyway because they're not smart!
In classrooms with a growth mindset, teachers focus the praise they give on the thinking process and work that students do, not the on the answers they put on the worksheet! Praise for effort keeps people engaged and willing to work hard! Praise for intelligence rather than praise for effort limits the one being praised to the limits of their mind. But you scan always work harder. In fact, your effort can stay the same and still make progress because you're not giving up!
Watch the video below to learn about some research on effective and ineffective praise.
In classrooms with a fixed mindset, students think that their natural ability to learn is the most important thing. They don't consider hard work as something that will impact their grades and learning. Do you have apathetic kids who don't seem to care? Perhaps they don't really think their effort is tied to the learning they are doing--they just feel like it's pointless to try because they will never "get it" anyway because they're not smart!
In classrooms with a growth mindset, teachers focus the praise they give on the thinking process and work that students do, not the on the answers they put on the worksheet! Praise for effort keeps people engaged and willing to work hard! Praise for intelligence rather than praise for effort limits the one being praised to the limits of their mind. But you scan always work harder. In fact, your effort can stay the same and still make progress because you're not giving up!
Watch the video below to learn about some research on effective and ineffective praise.
Your challenge for this upcoming week is to give your kids a task where they have to use productive struggle. Praise them throughout the struggle--but praise them for their effort, not their intelligence. Even if they kids can't get through the entire task, they may continue working if you keep praising their hard work and not their answer finding!
Here's a video you can share with your students about talent and the growth mindset:
Here's a video you can share with your students about talent and the growth mindset:
One more resource for you to consider as you adjust the mindset of you and your students!