2101 N. Main St
Nappanee, IN 46550

Phone: 574-773-4127
Fax: 574-773-4099

September 2010

Educational Review For Parents

September 2010

by Principal David L. Maugel

Recently, I read an article “Mind-Sets and Equitable Education” by Carol S. Dweck in Principal Leadership magazine. The article described two mind-sets, fixed and growth.

The fixed mind-set believed that intelligence is a static trait: some students are smart and some are not. The growth mind-set believed that intelligence can be developed by various means through effort and instruction. The article described results of following several hundred seventh grade students over a two-year period. The students were divided into two groups; those who received study-habit training (control group) and those who received study-habit and growth mind-set training.

The results were that teachers singled out three times as many students from the growth mind-set group as from the control group for showing motivation to learn. Note: the teachers were not aware of the individual student’s grouping. It was also determined that teaching a growth mind-set seems to decrease or even close achievement gaps.

I encourage all of us to remind our students, as well as ourselves, that learning is a result of effort, instruction, and mistakes.

Mr. Maugel will be writing a monthly review of materials he has found from journals, magazines, or other articles that may be of interest to parents.