Hey Coach, 

I always talk with my students about Growth Mindset, but sometimes it can be so difficult to embrace failure in my own teaching practice! Do you have any pointers for me?

Sincerely,
Fear of Failure

Dear Fear of Failure,

It is no secret that teachers all over the world try to instill some level of a growth mindset in their students. They have chants, songs, books, and clever sayings. They have nice posters with inspiring quotes like, “Everything you don’t know is something you can learn.”

Teachers even have lessons to help students learn perseverance. They all are there to remind and teach students that it is okay to fail and try again, to keep going, to make mistakes, and to learn something new. With everything teachers use to help students develop a growth mindset, why do educators often feel that failure isn’t an option for them?

Just like we model this mindset for our students, we also need to work on our own growth mindset! It is important to consider how the teacher’s mindset may have an influence on the way they respond to students. In a study conducted by Rattan et al, the author she concluded that teachers with a fixed mindset “were more likely to cast judgement on students and thought of them as having low potential than those who were growth-minded.” When we adopt a growth mindset, our students benefit because our teaching practice actually improves.

So how can teachers apply the growth mindset research to themselves? Here are a few strategies to try:

• Celebrate small achievements Acknowledge what went right before examining what didn’t. Check out this great article by James Clear on the value of how “small wins repeated over time can lead to a growth mindset.” Remember that it is okay to start small and take small steps!

• Make failure an option Remember that just because you failed at accomplishing something does not mean you will never succeed. Some of the most successful people failed more than they succeeded!

• Share your vulnerability with others, including your students You should not have the answer for everything or know how to use every tech tool. Instead, make your learning process visible to those around you. Don’t be afraid to allow students to be the teacher at times! Work with your students on troubleshooting technology/lessons together.

• Be flexible We have all been there… We planned a lesson (especially one with technology) and it is not working. Don’t let this get you down. Have a back up plan. Being flexible and able to shift in a moment’s notice not only helps you stay calm, it will help your students see this in action as well!

• Accept feedback and constructive criticism It is hard to accept feedback, especially when it is critical feedback. But knowing what you are doing well and what is not being received is important to establishing and building a growth mindset. And don’t just accept this feedback from your peers, but accept it from your students as well. Getting feedback from learners can truly transform the culture of your classroom!

• Reflect Take time to sit down and truly reflect on your own growth. This is a great time and place to take in the feedback you get and see what you need to change, learn, or shift. Reflecting can come in many different forms. Some like to write in a journal while others like to do video reflections.

Be as gentle with yourself as you are with your students and soon failure will transform into an opportunity for you to see how much you have grown!

All the best,
Coach.