A Closer Look at Culturally Responsive Instuction
4. Growth Mindset
Observation + Mindset
When viewing the table below, reflect on potential underlying biases or assumptions.
| Observed Behavior | Fixed Mindset | Growth Mindset |
|---|---|---|
| Student arrives late to their first period class on most days. | Student does not care about the class. | Teacher could connect with that student to learn what is causing them to arrive late. Maybe there is something going on at home. |
| Student A did not do well on Unit 1 and Unit 2 assessments. | Student A is not a good test taker. | Teacher could meet with the student 1:1 to discuss test taking strategies. |
| Student is agitated by teacher's feedback on essay. | Student is not self-reflective and unable to grow from feedback. | Teacher could reflect on times that they have not responded well to feedback and develop empathy for the student. |
It is also important to consider how growth mindset fits into the frame of the "learning pit" a positive growth mindset gives students the language and skills to go into the learning pit calm and ready to climb out and to engage in new learning.
https://www.challenginglearning.com/select-a-region/north-america/
Reflective Questions
- Think of a student that you have now or in the past that you have had a Growth Mindset about. What was it about that student or the situation that caused you to have a Growth Mindset about them? Is it possible that an implicit bias played a roll in how you viewed that student?
- Think of a student that you have now or in the past that you have had a Fixed Mindset about. What was it about that student or the situation that caused you to have a Fixed Mindset about them?
- What would need to change or be in place for you to have a Growth Mindset towards the student you had a Fixed Mindset about? Is it possible that an implicit bias played a roll in how you viewed that student?
- What is the connection between implicit bias and mindset?