tapping into potential: developing a culture that supports a growth mindset and fosters perseverence...
TRANSCRIPT
Tapping into Potential: Developing a Culture That Supports a Growth Mindset and Fosters Perseverence in Mathematics
Beth Schefelker, Milwaukee Public Schools, WI
Connie Laughlin, UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee WI
Melissa Hedges, Mequon-Thiensville School District, Mequon WI
National Council of Supervisors of MathematicsAnnual Meeting
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Path that led us here…
Current brain research (Sousa)Learning Intention and Success Criteria
(Clarke)Formative assessment principles
(Wiggins)Cognitive demand (Smith, et al) CCSSM – focus and coherence
Learning Intentions & Success Criteria
We are learning to… Understand the characteristics of fixed and growth
mindsets. Connect growth mindsets to the Standards for
Mathematics Practice
We will know we are successful when we can… Identify how rich mathematical tasks support and
promote a culture for growth mindset and an implementation of the Standards for Mathematical Practice.
Agenda
What are Mindsets?Why foster a Growth Mindset?Creating a Culture of Risk TakingBuilding a Growth Mindset
Linking Mindsets to CCSSM Standards for Mathematical Practice
Examining a Mathematical Task and Student Work
What are Mindsets?
Mindsets are the assumptions, expectations and beliefs that guide our behavior and our interactions with others.
Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence is simply an inborn trait—they have a certain amount, and that's that.
Individuals with a growth mindset believe that they can develop their intelligence over time.
Blackwell, Trzesniewski, & Dweck, 2007; Dweck, 1999, 2007
Why Foster a Growth Mindset?
Dweck, C. 2010
Creating a Culture of Risk Taking
Provide the right kinds of praise and encouragement. Praise students for the process they have engaged in
The effort they appliedThe strategies they usedThe choices they madeThe persistence they displayed
Emphasize that fast learning is not always the deepest and best learning.
Teach students to recognize the different mindsets.
Dweck, C. 2010
Building a Growth Mindset
Emphasize Challenge, Not "Success"
Give a Sense of ProgressMeaningful learning tasks give students a clear sense of progress leading to mastery.Use formative assessment strategies
Use Pre/post tests
Provide descriptive feedback
Grade for Growth
Dweck, C. 2010
In summary…
Fixed MindsetsIntelligence is static
Growth MindsetsIntelligence can be developed
Avoid challenges Embrace challenges
When faced with obstacles, get defensive or give up easily
When faced with obstacles, persist in the face of the obstacles.
See effort as fruitless or worse See effort as the path to mastery
Ignore useful descriptive feedback Learn from descriptive feedback
Feel threatened by the success of others
Find lessons and inspiration in the success of others
Growth mindsets lead to the love of challenge, belief in effort, resilience in the face of setbacks, and greater (more creative) success. --Dweck, C. (2008)
Does this sound familiar?
Standards for Mathematical Practice 1 and 2
SMP 1 - Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
SM2 – Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
What are the links between SMP1, SMP2 and Growth Mindsets?
Let’s do some math
Grace Ben and Maya were the top three winners in a math contest. They shared a cash prize in the ratio of 1:4:5. Maya received $40. How much more money did Ben receive than Grace?
Share your thinking with a neighbor.
Listening to Students
8th Grade Pre-Algebra
Insert Jing
Refer to your notes on SMP1 & 2 and Growth Mindsets.
How were these evidenced in the student thinking?
The Language of Growth Mindsets
‘Well done. You are learning to…..’ ‘I can’ statements become ‘I am learning to….’ ‘I’m really pleased you tried at that.’ ‘That’s fantastic. I liked the way you…..’ ‘That’s skilful.’ ‘What are you most proud of?’ ‘What is a good learner?’ ‘How are you more successful with this skill than
before?’ ‘This is what we did before. What more can you do
now?’Dweck, C. 2010
Mindset Change
Mindset change is not about picking up a few pointers here and there. It is about seeing things in a new way…it takes a commitment to growth and growth takes plenty of time, effort, and mutual support.
--Dweck, C. (2008)
Mindsets change…
What people strive for and what they see as success.
The definition, significance, and the impact of failure.
They change the deepest meaning of effort.
Dweck, C. 2010
Turn and Talk
What ideas from today’s session are important to you?
What are your next steps as you think about developing growth mindsets?
Thank You!Beth Schefelker,
Mathematics Specialist, Milwaukee Public [email protected]
Connie Laughlin,
Mathematics Consultant, UW-Milwaukee
Melissa Hedges,
K-8 Mathematics Specialist
Mequon-Thiensville School District