Today I joined several parents and Mrs. Caponi at the home of a BA family for a parent discussion of the book, Mindset, by Carol Dweck. It was a wonderful conversation and such a rewarding time. I wish that all our Lower School parents could have been there. If you have not yet had a chance to read Mindset, I highly recommend it. It offers great insights into how we think about our own abilities and potential. It really made me think about my own attitude toward learning. It makes one think – Do I have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? A growth mindset is open to new challenges, confident that with time and effort, one can always grow and improve. A growth mindset faces failures and obstacles with a sporting spirit and a willingness to try again. Just the attitude we would want all our scholars to have. On the other hand, a fixed mindset takes on a much more limiting perspective… believing that one’s ability is static and that failures define who we are. A fixed mindset avoids challenges and does not savor effort, hard work and growth. But the question we all focused on during our discussion is how can we instill a growth mindset in our own children? How do we help them face obstacles with a positive attitude, grit and determination? Surrounded by sincere and dedicated parents, we focused on the importance of praising effort, offering specific praise that describes the work done – things like: great thinking, way to put in the time and effort, congratulations on your determination, good use of time, etc. This praise is far better than telling a youngster how smart he is or how brilliant her work is. A child that is repeatedly told of their great intelligence is often afraid to make a mistake – shocked and overwhelmed when it happens and terrified when they do not immediately understand a new lesson. We want to empower our scholars to take risks and give learning a chance – and that is done by praising effort and work, not implying that success comes from natural ability. Success is the result of sustained effort and plain old hard work. The final chapter of Mindset is entitled Changing Mindsets and offers many ideas about effecting change and maintaining it in our own perspective and in that of our children’s. I highly recommend it. And if you ever want a cup of coffee and some conversation, I am eager to continue today’s discussion at any point throughout the year. Let’s get together!
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Mrs. PryorLower School Head Archives
September 2015
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