The document contrasts a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset. A fixed mindset believes intelligence is fixed, seeks to prove intelligence, avoids challenges, and takes criticism personally. A growth mindset believes intelligence can develop, embraces challenges, learns from mistakes and criticism, and believes effort leads to mastery. Praise should focus on effort, not intelligence, to motivate a growth mindset in students.

1. Growth Mind Set
vs.
Fixed Mind Set
Amy Calderoni

2. Fixed Mind Set
• Students :
– Believe intelligence is fixed(Richard,2007)
– Seek tasks to prove their intelligence
– Need/want to look smart
– Avoid challenges/obstacles
– Take criticism personally

3. Fixed Mind Set – cont.
• Students
– Do not learn from mistakes
– View making an effort as being dumb
– Bright students will stop working when faced
with difficult material
– “Achieve less than full potential”(Richard,
2007)

4. Growth Mind Set
• Students
– Believe intelligence can be developed
– Have a desire to learn and improve
– Embrace challenges/obstacles
– Criticism helps them grow
– Believe effort is necessary to master skills

5. Growth Mind Set
• Students:
– Learn from their mistakes
– Work hard
– “Reach higher levels of
achievement”(Richard, 2007)

6. Effects of Praise
• Need to praise students for effort and hard
work not intelligence
• Emphasize process, hard work and effort

7. Praise
Don’t say…….. Instead say…….
• You are really smart. • What strategy did you
use?
• That was a great report. • I see you worked hard on
this report-it shows.
• I knew you were really
smart. • I knew you worked hard
and used good strategies
to study.

8. Motivating Students
• “ the wrong kind of praise creates
self-defeating behavior. The right
kind motivates students to learn.”
(Dweck, 2007)

9. References
• (2004). Brain, model of; side view. [Image]. Available from
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
• Corbis (Producer). (2012). Jackie Robinson Swinging Bat.
[Image]. Available from http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
• Dweck, C. (2007, October). The Perils and Promises of
Praise. Retrieved from Educational Leadership website:
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-
leadership/oct07/vol65/num02/The-Perils-and-Promises-of-
Praise.aspx
• Jupiterimages Corporation (Producer). (2006). Children and
School Bus. [Image]. Available from
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/

10. References
• Jupiterimages Corporation (Producer). (2006). Child's Writing.
[Image]. Available from http://www.discoveryeduca
• Jupiterimages Corporation (Producer). (2006). School Bus (1).
[Image]. Available from http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
• Richard, M. G. (2007, April 15). Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset:
Which One Are You? [Web log post]. Retrieved from
http://michaelgr.com/2007/04/15/ fixed-mindset-vs-growth-mindset-
which-one-are-you/