Week 2 , a Growth Mindset.

Unfortunately, I had to miss the in class portion of this weeks math classes. I was able to participate in a webinar this week as well as complete the online module.

This weeks online module focused on what your mindset might be when it came to mathematics. Breaking down the two types of mind sets we have growth versus fixed. A fixed mindset related to mathematics is that you do not believe that a person can develop or grow in the field of mathematics, that you either get it or you don't. A growth mindset focuses on an individuals ability to grow, that with practice any learner can develop new skills and progress in mathematics. When it comes down to it, instructors really need to have a growth mindset as well encourage their learners too as well. Having your learners and students understand that with practice, effort and confidence they can be as successful as the next individual will increase positive results as well as self esteem.

Often, when I was in elementary school, I could tell the teachers did not have a growth mindset. I feel as if once they had an impression of a student that was it. As an example I am going to use my friend Billy. Billy struggled with his multiplication and division but he was alright when it came to addition and subtraction. He did not score well on the test. Mrs. Smith's impression was that he was struggling to do his multiplication and division. When she tried helping him with her way of instruction and assigning extra homework, he was still struggling. Mrs. Smith simply "wrote off" Billy and multiplication and division, she thought he was a lost cause. Poor Billy never succeeded in Mrs. Smith's class. This example shows a fixed mindset, the instructor is just assuming the student will not be able to improve even though she tried helping. It is important to have a growth mindset and use different teaching strategies. Students will fail, as an instructor it is your job to get them back on their feet and be positive so that they can be successful from their mistakes.

This leads me to this weeks webinar on differentiated instruction. The group focused on interactive math games that engage the learner. First, I just want to say the group did a great job. I really enjoyed how interactive they made the webinar. They also linked interactive games that can be used in the classroom, helping make math more enjoyable. Throughout the year and a bit as a teacher candidate, we have always been reminded about how important it is differentiate instruction.