Cultivating a Classroom Culture of Growth: Nurture the Power of a Growth Mindset

Abstract

Abstract One of the most frequent motivations for entering the teaching profession is the desire to assist students in succeeding in school and life (Heinz, 2015). But it can be challenging to design learning environments that motivate and keep students motivated. Students may start to doubt their skills and talents when they fail or encounter learning difficulties. Students sometimes see such academic losses as a sign that they are not “good enough” for specific subjects. A growth mindset is an effective technique that significantly impacts students’ performance. Teachers can assist students in developing the skills they need to overcome obstacles and succeed by fostering a growth mindset in the classroom. This article highlights the importance of a growth mindset for academic performance and gives examples of how teachers can encourage this mindset in their students. The present paper also encompasses a Dweck’s adapted questionnaire addressed to first, second and third-year students from the Pedagogy of Primary and Preschool Education study program within the ‘Petru Maior’ Faculty of Sciences and Letters, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, which highpoints students’ opinions regarding the advantages of having a growth mindset and the difficulties they have to overcome to achieve their goals. The paper also includes tactics teachers can employ to encourage a growth mindset in their students and students’ opinions regarding adopting a growth mindset.