The Power of Growth Mindset

Kathleen Palmieri

Source: Kathleen Palmieri, used with permission

People often succeed at a level far below their abilities. For example, even if we look at highly intelligent individuals, only 2.86% of the 210 highly gifted children in a 35-year study grew up to be highly successful adults (Freeman, 2010).

If you think about everyone you know, I am sure you can name some who do not achieve their potential. They might be children, teens, or adults, but the mindset (and thus habits) they adopt at any stage in their life will likely impact their success not only then, but on through their adulthood as well. That “success” can be in virtually any arena: personal, academic, social, professional, etc.

Fortunately, growth mindset can help. Having a growth mindset helps individuals better deal with challenges and helps them excel. For example, students who have a growth mindset earn higher grades, show greater motivation in school, achieve greater academic success, and score higher on academic tests (Dweck, 2007).

I had the pleasure of interviewing Kathleen Palmieri, who is a National Board Certified Teacher and a National Board Professional Learning Facilitator. She teaches fifth grade in upstate New York and writes articles based on her teaching experiences. Here Palmieri gives us valuable insights on mindset and its classroom implications.

Jenny Rankin (JR): How did you become invested in the theory of Mindset?

Kathleen Palmieri (KP): Several years ago I had watched a video of Carol Dweck (2013) speaking about How to Help Every Child Fulfil Their Potential. She spoke of mindsets and the way students view themselves as learners. It was this presentation that introduced me to the theory of mindsets. I was intrigued as she spoke of a study done with students who were transitioning into 7th grade, which I related to as I teach 5th graders transitioning into 6th grade. During a transition year the work is increasingly more complex, the social environment is changing along with students’ views of themselves academically and emotionally. The study began at the start of the first term surveying the students’ mindset to see if they thought intelligence was fixed, you were either smart or not, or if it could grow as learning increased. For two years they measured the students’ grades in math, as well as their attitudes. I found the data fascinating as it showed that the students’ achievement scores were relatively the same as they began, but then over time dramatically splitting on the chart with those with a growth mindset succeeding and those with a fixed mindset declining. After listening to this talk and wanting to learn more, I read Dr. Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. I then went on to Jo Boaler’s Limitless and Mathematical Mindsets, which was a game changer in how I teach math.

JR: What impact has a growth mindset had on your professional development?

KP: It is very interesting to reflect upon my own growth mindset journey and how I’ve continued to “grow my learning." In recent years, professional development (PD) has taken on new meaning for me. During the school year, there is the prescribed PD that occurs. However, when it is my choice I look for ways to delve deeper into topics and the science of pedagogy that pushes me to step outside my learning comfort zone. An example is the subject of math. I was never a fan of math, but I decided I wanted to grow in my understanding of math concepts and practices. I sought out opportunities to learn such as webinars, books to read, and I soon became fascinated with the work of Jo Boaler. Currently I am participating in Jo Boaler’s “21st Century Teaching & Learning” course through Stanford Graduate School of Education learning about a data science approach to any subject area to be able to equip students with powerful data literacy skills. I keep expanding upon my learning, and I truly believe it is because of my growth mindset.

JR: Wow, I can really see growth mindset playing a strong role in your learning. Tell me more.

KP: The most meaningful way growth mindset has impacted my professional development was when I began my journey to become a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). What I learned as I worked through countless hours of reflecting and writing about my teaching practice and my work with my students was incredible. My mantra during times of questioning myself was, “She believed she could, so she did.” I grew exponentially and achieved my goal of becoming certified because of my growth mindset.

What Next?

In my next post for this column (Part 2), Palmieri will provide more insight into how educators can help students embrace a growth mindset, and how they too can benefit from this refined outlook.