Growth Mindset Plan
A growth mindset helps me see challenges and failures as learning opportunities rather than insurmountable obstacles.
This allows me to face adversity with greater resilience and persistence. As Carol Dweck explains in her four steps, "fostering a more open and flexible mindset allows people to embrace learning and personal development over time."
Developing a growth mindset in preschool children is essential for their future learning and success. As a preschool teacher, I seek the development of a growth mindset, the ability to recover from adversity, and the ability to move forward with a positive attitude. They are creating an environment that stimulates curiosity and exploration. I will encourage children to ask questions, try new ideas, and discover solutions for themselves. I will promote the "I can learn anything" attitude by instilling confidence in your ability to acquire new knowledge and adopting a key concept in growth mindset theory developed by Carol Dweck. This refers to the idea that if a person has not yet achieved a goal or mastered an ability "yet" they can do so in the future with additional effort and practice, recognizing that they are in the process of learning, the use of the "yet" to me is essential because it directly encourages a growth mindset, by focusing on potential instead of current limitations.
A growth mindset is associated with higher intrinsic motivation. By understanding that your effort and dedication directly impact my growth and success, I feel more motivated to work hard and pursue my goals with determination.
In the context of the students in my organization (Cleveland ISD), it is crucial to recognize that the mindset of my preschool students is in an early stage of developing and forming their beliefs about learning and intelligence. Considering that the influence of the environment within the preschool classroom is crucial in shaping their education and their interactions with me as a teacher, this can play an essential role in forming these mindsets.
This growth mindset plan encourages a growth mindset in preschool students. It is crucial to establish a positive foundation for lifelong learning and development, according to Dweck (2006). A growth mindset increases resilience by changing preschoolers' perceptions of classroom and life challenges. In this small environment, hand in hand with my students, seeing challenges with a growth mindset since we approach them as learning opportunities.
I am helping to foster a growth mindset in preschoolers by assisting them in recognizing the voice of their fixed mindset and cultivating a growth mindset, promoting their self-expression. This is achieved by encouraging them to express their thoughts and feelings. They ask about their experiences and listen carefully. The preschooler can identify how she feels about her abilities and challenges.
I stand hand in hand with my students, encouraging curiosity and technological exploration, allowing preschool students to explore and discover new things. Curiosity and exploration are fundamental to a growth mindset, as they involve an active interest in learning and encourage them to have the opportunity to develop their imagination, creation, and voice and “implement the power of yet” in their daily activities.
I need to think with a growth mentality since, as a teacher, I am the one who designs their activities. When they encounter challenges, I must speak to the students with the beautiful word “yet.” This is an excellent opportunity for me. to strengthen the thinking of growth in my students. On a personal level, this word is vital to overcome the challenges presented to me and, in this way, to be a better person who, in turn, involves being a good teacher for my preschool students.
When this learning process occurs, I, as a teacher, can positively reinforce preschool children with the voice of the growth mindset when they demonstrate perseverance and effort in the different technological challenges that arise in the classroom. I am patient, encouraging the process, and celebrating small achievements as my preschool students internalize a more open and positive attitude toward learning and challenges.
This reinforces the idea that effort and dedication are valuable and lead to long-term success.
Children learn by watching adults. In this case, they will adopt the growth mindset I manifest to them, model it in their own life, show enthusiasm for learning, face challenges, and embrace continuous improvement.
This continuous improvement is achieved during the first years of life when the child's brain undergoes rapid growth and development. Neural connections form in response to experiences and environmental stimuli (Shonkoff et al., 2012). Every interaction, game, and learning activity triggers a process fundamental to cognitive development.
In this way, neuroplasticity in childhood is particularly notable. Brain plasticity allows preschool children, and me as a teacher, to adapt and change in response to new situations. In the context of preschool children, this ability offers exceptional opportunities to positively shape brain architecture (Kolb & Gibb, 2011).
Developing a growth mindset these authors agree on the importance of cultivating a growth mindset in children from an early age (Dweck, 2006). A mindset that sees effort as the path to improvement and embraces challenges can propel preschoolers to overcome obstacles on their path to developing talent.
The growth mindset plan will be developed in phonetic language since preschool is a critical period for developing phonetic language in children; this is essential for developing speech and literacy in early childhood.
A phonics growth mindset can be implemented through digital apps and games designed specifically for phonics development, which can be valuable tools. Interactive programs that actively present letters, sounds, and words can foster curiosity and provide a platform for systematic phonics language practice. Different platforms that offer content adapted to the individual level of each preschooler can be vital to promoting a growth mindset. These apps adjust the level of difficulty based on the child's progress, providing gradual challenges and intrinsic rewards that encourage perseverance and continuous improvement.
Educational videos and interactive apps that incorporate phonetic elements can enrich language exposure. Combining visual images, sounds, and hands-on activities can make phonics language learning engaging and memorable for preschoolers.
According to Carol Dweck, in growth mindset theory, the formation of this mindset must begin from an early age, even in preschool age. She considers it beneficial to start promoting a growth mindset from the first years of life. The preschool phase is a critical period in preschoolers' cognitive and social-emotional development, and establishing a growth mindset early on can have long-term impacts.
Adopting a growth mindset in your personal life is essential to facing challenges with resilience, maintaining a positive attitude towards continuous learning, and developing the confidence necessary to pursue your goals with determination. The growth mindset is a powerful tool that empowers you to reach your full potential and make the most of the opportunities that come your way.
References
Dweck, C.S. (2006). Mindset: the new psychology of
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Coyle, D. (2009). The code of talent: greatness is not
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National Literacy Institute. (2008). Early literacy
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