Growth Mindset not the only tool for teachers

Gordon Cairns

By Gordon Cairns
Community contribution / January 26, 2017

Everyone working in education searches for the elusive magic bullet; that one thing which will suddenly make all of our students open and receptive to the learning we are trying to impart. It is not so surprising therefore, that when something straightforward but logical comes along we grasp it, believing this will be the missing element in our ability to educate our young charges.

The latest panacea to turn our pupils into high achievers is Growth Mindset.

The thinking behind it is persuasive, arguing ...

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By Gordon Cairns

Community

Gordon Cairns is an English teacher and education journalist in the UK.

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In my opinion, the most difficult part of introducing Growth Mindset into the classroom is the element of embracing failure to grow.

— Gordon Cairns

“If you try to tell kids who have trouble learning, ‘You can do it, you can change’, you can actually do some harm. Because some kids are going to find it really difficult; it isn’t just a matter of positive thinking. Kids aren’t stupid. I don’t believe the evidence base is all that strong.”

— Geneticist Professor Robert Plomin

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