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Growth Mindset
In a past math class, I was able to apply a growth mindset while tackling a unit on
quadratic equations. I started out finding factoring and completing the square difficult, so I
decided to ask for assistance and persevere. I met with a tutor, spoke up in class and watched
videos to deepen my understanding of quadratics. For every mistaken solution, I would take the
chance to figure out what I did incorrectly and find ways to correct the error. Gradually, I paid
attention to patterns and made less errors. Watching myself get better and better convinced me
that working hard would pay off in the end. My teacher’s encouragement, along with positive
feedback whenever I tried, helped me continue having a growth mindset. Rewarding moments
and words of encouragement from my teacher inspired me to keep working hard and eventually
achieve mastery in math.
However, learning about logarithms caused me to adopt a fixed mindset. I found the
unfamiliar terminology and rules to be overwhelming and I began to believe that I wasn’t
naturally gifted at math. I didn’t contribute to discussions and didn’t try hard enough to grasp the
subject. Seeing how easily some classmates picked up the material made me feel as if I was
failing. Those doubts and the fear of making mistakes caused me to back away from the subject
and did not ask for support, holding me back as I learned.
One action I intend to perform to build my growth mindset this semester is to reframe the
way I speak to myself. I will replace negative statements with positive ones by saying “I’ll keep
trying because there’s potential for me to improve”. I intend to stay positive and use every
experience as an opportunity to grow.
Growth Mindset
In a past math class, I was able to apply a growth mindset while tackling a unit on
quadratic equations. I started out finding factoring and completing the square difficult, so I
decided to ask for assistance and persevere. I met with a tutor, spoke up in class and watched
videos to deepen my understanding of quadratics. For every mistaken solution, I would take the
chance to figure out what I did incorrectly and find ways to correct the error. Gradually, I paid
attention to patterns and made less errors. Watching myself get better and better convinced me
that working hard would pay off in the end. My teacher’s encouragement, along with positive
feedback whenever I tried, helped me continue having a growth mindset. Rewarding moments
and words of encouragement from my teacher inspired me to keep working hard and eventually
achieve mastery in math.
However, learning about logarithms caused me to adopt a fixed mindset. I found the
unfamiliar terminology and rules to be overwhelming and I began to believe that I wasn’t
naturally gifted at math. I didn’t contribute to discussions and didn’t try hard enough to grasp the
subject. Seeing how easily some classmates picked up the material made me feel as if I was
failing. Those doubts and the fear of making mistakes caused me to back away from the subject
and did not ask for support, holding me back as I learned.
One action I intend to perform to build my growth mindset this semester is to reframe the
way I speak to myself. I will replace negative statements with positive ones by saying “I’ll keep
trying because there’s potential for me to improve”. I intend to stay positive and use every
experience as an opportunity to grow.
