It is important to work on setting our "mindsets" on a path of growth, in which we welcome the awesomeness that math is while understanding that everyone is capable of succeeding in math.
Currently, one of the topics often discussed in classrooms is the idea of a Growth Mindset vs. a Fixed Mindset. Growth (and Fixed) Mindsets are something you may have heard about. In case you haven't, or if you want to review the meaning of each, here's a video that does a great job of comparing the two.
Growth vs Fixed Mindset
You might now be questioning how exactly the idea of mindsets play a role in math class. This is a great question and something that is extremely important for us to explore...
Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, has shared a large amount of information about myths of math and about brain research regarding learning. Some of what she shares relates to the ideas of mindsets. Take a quick look at Jo Boaler talking about the effect of mindsets on learning in this video.
Jo Boaler Talks About The Power Of Our Mindset
Professor Boaler had some of her students share some very important messages. These messages should help motivate students (you!) and get them thinking differently about math, especially if their experiences with math haven't always been positive.
Boosting Math
What important messages did you learn from this video?
There is a fantastic website full of great messages about math, research about brain science, and resources for students, parents, and teachers. The website is YouCubed at Stanford University. Below, we will point out a few items specifically, but you are encouraged you to explore the site with your families.
The first webpage of this site we would like to direct you to is one that you will be able to learn a little more about the students you saw in the last video. Each video has one of these students sharing their journey with math and how they were challenged (and maybe discouraged) by math but also how they found ways to have math work for them and enjoy it! Follow this link to watch any or all of these videos. After watching the videos, reflect on what you heard. Did you make any connections? Did you feel as though you've had similar experiences? How can you see math more positively?
Now, we encourage you to work on a math problem with your family. YouCubed at Stanford University has a selection here that you may wish to choose from.
Parents and Families, this next resource is for you! If you are wondering how you can support your child(ren) in their math learning journey, Jo Boaler has some advice for you in this handout. Was there anything on the handout that surprised you? Any steps you would consider trying, to support your child(ren)?
There are two final parts to this post/page. The first is a short video to remind you about some of the challenges that students face in math class and the importance of a growth mindset.
Scenes from Forthcoming Math Film
Lastly, we would like to share a great course that is available to you and it's free! How to Learn Math For Students is a course that you can work on at your own speed. It covers some of the myths and research that we touched upon on this page, and so much more. We encourage all students, and their families, to work through this course together. Your opinions on math will change for the better!
References
genConnect U. (2015, July 9). Jo Boaler Talks About The Power Of Our Mindset [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzpmVtxGIVE
Metoyer, M. (2014, September 18). Growth vs Fixed Mindset [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brpkjT9m2Oo
Race to Nowhere. (2014, May 9). Scenes from Forthcoming Math Film [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuWERO0nwQI
YouCubed at Stanford. (2015, November 2). Boosting Math [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxrPy1fjVU4
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