Alternate Route Teacher Fosters Growth Mindsets by Gaining Students’ Trust

The concept of fixed mindset versus growth mindset is a relatively new one to me though I have, in retrospect encountered both types of students in the classroom. I’ve taught in a variety of settings and have  encountered students who fall across the spectrum of having fixed and growth mindsets.

One of the most memorable students I’ve ever taught was a young man in a special program for incarcerated juveniles. When I first met this student, he would put his head down on the desk and say to me very clearly 'I can't do this shit'. He clearly exhibited a fixed mindset and pretended to have no ability or interest in learning the subject. Over time, he revealed to me that he was in the program because he accidentally shot and killed his younger brother when he was 11 years old.

As his trust in me grew, he revealed more of his story to me. It became clear that this young man had never had a positive educational experience. His reluctance to do his classwork was based on his fear of failure and belief that he was unable to do the work. When he attempted to complete assignments, I would praise his effort, recognize his strategy or highlight his improvement. With continued encouragement,his attitude began to change. He began to participate more in class and do well on his projects—he even would volunteer before being called on. He was my student of the month for March. Without understanding the theory of growth mindset teaching, I was applying Dweck's research on feedback strategies which emphasize students control of their own learning. The impact on this student’s learning outcomes was tremendous. He revealed to me at his graduation that I was the only teacher who ever encouraged him and made him feel like he wasn't dumb. He was 17 years old.

I also had the pleasure of teaching a 14-year-old girl who showed classic signs of having a growth mindset. Despite the instability of her home background—she’s frequently moved from relative to relative—this young girl believed that she could accomplish whatever she put her mind to, and did just that. Her determination to perform well was fierce. Her determination to do better was apparent to all who crossed paths with her. When a particular subject matter challenged her, she would gear herself up to the challenge without intervention. As with all of my students, though, I encouraged her to believe that her effort would yield the results she envisioned.

Getting to know my students is a critical part of my teaching strategy. Acquiring the trust of students is often difficult, but well worth it in the long run. Through their trust in me, my students have learned to trust in their expanding abilities and embrace a growth mindset.