Mindsets in the classroom

Fixed Mindset

Fixed Mindset Students

• Low performers - legacy of failure
• Apathetic underachievers - less than 100%
• High-achieving perfectionists - playing school

Growth Mindset

Character Education

• Wisdom (Reason, Responsibility)
• Vigilance (Self-control, Steadfastness)
• Courage (Perspective, Perseverance)
• Strength (Drive, Discipline)

Character Ed and Mindsets

• Perspective-Start the work.
• Perseverance-Finish the work.
• Drive-Overcome indecision.
• Discipline-Overcome adversity.

Understand Neuroplasticity

Redefine Failure

Current SYstem

• Time is the constant and learning the variable
• Policies penalize learning that isn't timely
• Work is accepted that isn't satisfactory
• Teachers play with the grades to make them work

Evidence of Mastery

• Growth mindset states that ALL students can learn
• Students need opportunities to learn from mistakes
• There is no learning without risk
• There will be no risk without safety

Failure is the key to success

• Teach students that we learn when we try new things
• Give students a safe place to try, fail, and succeed
• Remove behavioral compliance & time from grading
• Allow students to redo work without penalty
• Provide scafolded support for struggling students

EOM in Action

• Grading policy redesigned to focus on mastery
• 25% grade from standardized test (upper grades)
• 25% grade from student self-reflection
• 25% grade from authentic performance task
• 25% grade from student selected work portfolio

Standardized test

• Mimics STAAR format for upper grades
• Can be replaced by reading diagnostic for younger grades
• Shows a snapshot of understanding on one day

Student self-reflection

• Forces students to own their effort
• Rubric based on 4 character traits
• Perspective, Perseverance, Drive, Discipline

Untitled Slide

Authentic Performance Tasks

• Tasks tie into the trivium
• Grammar stage: demonstrate knowledge of topic
• Logic stage: analyze concepts, create logical frameworks
• Rhetoric stage: reasoned speeches and essays
• Work to be done in class with guidance of teacher

Student selected work portfolio

• 4 items turned in over grading period (possible 8-10)
• Assistance given from teacher, peers, parents
• Items scored against a rubric for thoroughness
• Can be resubmitted after feedback

What about homework?

• Still assigned and expected to be completed
• Truly used as formative practice
• Missing work dealt with through behavior (e.g., study hall)
• Not graded unless submitted as part of portfolio

Benefits to Growth Model

• Focuses on evidence of mastery rather than compliance
• Allows all students to show mastery with support
• Assignments are given simply to take a grade
• Grades aren't padded with dropped tests or extra credit
• Self-discipline taught and expected from earliest grades

Praise the process

• Teach students a new vocabulary to use
• Incorporate character lessons in homeroom
• Teachers model a growth model attitude
• Educate parents
• Teach about the brain and how to train it