Mindset is everything

We hear a lot about the concept of a growth mindset in education today. This type of mindset is beneficial for both students and educators alike. Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, is most synonymous with the buzz around Growth and Fixed mindsets. Dweck cautions educators of “false growth mindset” – leading some educators to think growth mindset development is simpler than it actually is.  A few resources are listed at the end of this post including an article where Dweck addresses this misunderstanding.

So, what does mindset have to do with the teaching multi-lingual students? When we, as educators are faced with a challenge it is important for us to pay attention to our own mindsets. This infographic, recently tweeted by @ValentinaESL, a professional development specialist in Texas, sums up a few mindset shifts we can create and encourage in our schools. She shares other helpful infographics and resources on her website.

When our own mindsets shift from what our EL student are not able to do yet, we open up the possibilities to be open to try new ways of reaching our students. As you notice in the infographic above, the mindset shifts start with the teacher and school setting.

Here are a few resources to assist in your journey. Also, do not hesitate to reach out to the EL Consultants at Northwest AEA.

Resources about Mindset in general:

• MindsetOnline – Carol Dweck’s website
• How Praise Became a Consolation Prize: Helping children confront challenges requires a more nuanced understanding of the “growth mindset.” (an interview in The Atlantic featuring Carol Dweck speaking to “false growth mindsets.”
• Carol Dweck Revisits the “Growth Mindset” – a blog post in EdWeek
• The Power of YET – TEDx Talk by Carol Dweck

Resources about Growth Mindset with English Learners (for educator and student mindsets):

• Fostering Growth Mindset with English Learners – MultiBrief Blog post
• Why Do We Have a Deficit Mindset ELL/ELN Students – EdWeek Blog Post by Peter DeWitt
• We Did A Great ‘Growth Mindset’ Lesson With Our ELLs This Week – Here’s The Lesson Plan – Blog post by Larry Ferlazzo