How could you adapt or change one of your current class/course policies to reflect a moving mindset? Is this a change you are willing to make? Why or Why not?
This year as a school for part of our Professional Development we read a book called "Mindset" by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. So many of our staff meeting focused on what mindset we had and wanted to have... The ideal being a growth and not a fixed mindset. I will not lie to you and tell you that the book was good or very interesting but it definitely had its good points...
Many of the teachers that are parents made comments in the meetings about how they have "fixed" mindsets with there children but the book tells you that you should be teaching a growth mindset. And they felt disappointed that they might have "messed" there kids up. So for example a growth mindset would have you have the ability to change and develop through learning; where as a fixed mindset would state that you are born with the abilities you have and can not adapt them. And telling a child they are "smart" is actually a bad thing because that would be a "fixed" ability versus saying something more along the lines of "good job that answer was well thought out."
Anyways there was some really good points on how you can change the way you talk and act in your class that will promote higher learner and thought processing.
So back to the original question: I have tried to become a better active listener to my students.. I know that might sound terrible but sometimes I don't care to hear the story about how your uncle broke his pinkie finger wrestling a bear in the parking lot of a 7 Eleven (not a true story but you know how kids will just keep talking); so I have started to try and ask more thought provoking questions to there stories to try and stop the babbling and get them to tell me the point with good communication skills. This is how I am trying to grow as a listener :)
