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Literacy 7-12

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Literacy 7-12 > Strategies > Growth Mindset Feedback

Growth Mindset Feedback

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Overview

Providing feedback that focuses on the process of developing skills conveys the importance of effort and motivates students to persist when learning. When students believe that their skills can be developed through dedication and hard work instead of innate abilities, they can develop a growth mindset. Research has shown that this type of feedback in combination with teacher modeling is particularly supportive of marginalized students.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch how this school incorporates growth mindset feedback as an inherent element of its culture. They implement techniques for teachers and peers to give and receive respectful and specific feedback, encouraging a growth mindset approach. They also use language such as "good mistake" and "aha mistake moment" to describe their mistakes, seeing them as opportunities for growth.

  • When providing growth mindset feedback, it is important to remind students of the progress they have made while also supporting them during times of struggle. Teachers can support a growth mindset by specifically attending to the effective strategies they use, effort they put in, and practice they do when providing feedback.

    • Design It into Your Product

  • Developers can provide feedback that stresses the learning process when learners accomplish a difficult task. Along the way, they can also give feedback during setbacks to motivate learners to continue trying, which grows their sense of intelligence as something that can be developed.
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    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Encourage a Growth Mindset

    Four ways to foster a growth mindset in students

    Examples

    Growth Mindset Examples

    Video starting at 2:20 that shows high school teachers giving effective feedback in math

    Examples

    Growth Mindset Feedback

    Sentence frames for providing growth mindset feedback in different situations

    Examples

    Growth Mindset Lesson Plan

    Blog from a teacher on how he fosters growth mindset with his EL students

    Research

    Growth Mindset for Math

    Jo Boaler explains the importance of learning from mistakes

    Research

    Self-Efficacy

    Subtopic that includes research on the factors that lead people to develop self-efficacy on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Student Goals

    Subtopic that explores how student goals relate to academic achievement and their motivation to learn on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Student Motivation

    Topic that includes research on the factors that motivate students to learn and reach their goals on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    The Secret to Raising Smart Kids

    Scientific American article by Carol Dweck on the importance of process praise

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Literacy
    Cognition
    Metacognition
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Motivation
    Self-regulation
    Stereotype Threat
    Student Background

    More Teacher Modeling & Support Strategies

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    Using language that is accessible and appropriately leveled for each student allows all students to feel successful and participate in learning.

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    Content that is provided in clear, short chunks can support students' Working Memory and ensure students are directing their Attention to the relevant information.

    Building Trusting Relationships

    Building positive and trusting relationships with learners allows them to feel safe; a sense of belonging; and that their academic, cognitive, and social and emotional needs are supported.

    Encourage Student Self-advocacy

    Overtly encouraging all students to seek support, ask questions, and advocate for what they believe in creates a safe space for risk-taking and skill development.

    Evaluating Sources

    Teaching students how to systematically evaluate sources prepares them to navigate in an increasingly complex, digital world.

    Feedback on Writing

    Providing constructive feedback supports students' writing development by letting them know how to improve their writing.

    Foster Growth Mindset

    When students are aware that learning involves effort, mistakes, reflection, and refinement of strategies, they are more resilient when they struggle.

    Incorporate Students' Cultural Practices

    Learning about students' cultures and connecting them to instructional practices helps all students feel like valued members of the community, which improves Motivation and can mitigate Stereotype Threat.

    Model the Assignment or Skill

    By talking through their thinking at each step of a process, teachers can model what learning looks like.

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    Maintaining consistent routines, structures, and supports ensures that students are able to trust and predict what will happen next.

    Read-alouds

    Reading aloud to adolescents models Reading Fluency as texts become more complex and disciplinary in nature and therefore, more difficult to understand.

    Read-alouds: Discussing Emotions

    Using texts to discuss complex emotions and perspectives with students can help them see how they influence behavior and draw their own personal connections.

    Student Choice

    Giving students voice and choice in their learning is critical for making learning meaningful and relevant to them.

    Wait Time

    Wait time, or think time, of three or more seconds after posing a question increases how many students volunteer and the length and accuracy of their responses.

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