5 EASY WAYS TO CREATE A MINDSET FOR MATHEMATICAL GROWTH
What exactly is a Growth Mindset?
The concept that you may develop talents via effort and hard work is referred to as a growth mindset. A growth mentality has several crucial features when it comes to schooling.
Students or teachers with a development mindset:
- Believe in the development of intellect
- Concentrate on learning rather than achieving the "right" response.
- If something doesn't work, don't give up and try something new.
- Reflect on your mistakes and learn from them.
What are the Mathematical Practice Standards?
The Common Core Standards include these standards. Instead of focusing on the topic, they highlight what good mathematicians do.
Excellent mathematicians:
- Persist in problem solving
- Examine their responses using various ways
- Plan how to tackle an issue rather than diving into a solution
- Justify their responses and interact with others
To summarize, both the development mindset and the Standards for Mathematical Practice value process above outcome.
The true dilemma on the minds of many instructors is, "How do you get kids to persevere?"
In my experience, you can't just say "PERSEVERE" and walk away. Students require tools and techniques to draw from and work through a difficult topic in order to be successful.
So, let's go through 5 strategies you may utilize in your classroom to promote a math development attitude.
Tip #1: Use Think-Alouds to Demonstrate Problem Solving.
Think-alouds are extremely essential yet are sometimes disregarded. If we want our children to acquire a growth mentality, we must model it for them.
Make it a habit to demonstrate to your kids how you would solve an issue, and incorporate growth mindset characteristics such as effort and perseverance.
"Guys, this problem appears to be very difficult, but I will do my best." First, I must devise a strategy. Hmmm. I suppose I'll draw a picture here. I'll experiment with an area model."
Tip #2: Pose questions that encourage a challenge.
Choose issues or questions with many solution pathways and/or solutions.
Open-Routed Problem - There are several avenues to solving the problem, but there is only one solution. (For example, Alicia's bedroom is 20 feet long and 24 feet broad. What is the location?)
There are various solution pathways and multiple solutions in an open-ended problem. (For example, Alicia's bedroom is 480 square feet. Make a list of all the potential dimensions.)
Because the process becomes more important than the answer, open-ended questions or challenges are especially useful for developing a development mentality.
Tip #3: Allow for Opportunities When Students Collaborate
Allowing your children to collaborate with others can help them grow their problem-solving arsenal since they will discover new approaches to tackle issues from one another.
I don't know about you, but one of my students was able to communicate their problem-solving method to another kid on more than one occasion better than I could.
In addition to earning the proper answer, you may award team points for things like effort and accountable speaking.
Tip #4: Allow time for students to explain how they solved the problem.
Spread the love when students have completed their task with a partner!
Invite a few students to present and defend their responses in front of the full class. The key to a deep debate is to provide a comfortable environment in which your children will want to share their ideas, even if they are unsure of their replies.
Inquire, for example, "What did you do to persevere through the problem?" "What was your plan of attack?" "What strategy did you use?"
Tip #5: Allow for Reflection (Including Errors)
Celebrate the process, even errors.
Is it okay to celebrate mistakes?
YES! In reality, errors are useful because they teach us something.
"Thank you for sharing!" is an example. I get where you're going with this. I believe that many other students have the same idea, thus you are assisting us. "How could you have handled this differently?"
