The Benefit Mindset and the Power of “Get”

Most people know about the growth mindset and using the word "yet" as a way of maintaining self-confidence and hope, especially when one's growth process and path to success are long and riddled with setbacks. There's a world of difference and a wealth of optimism by changing your mindset with the word "yet": "I can't …

Learning Mindsets and the Whole Child: The Fixed, Growth, and Benefit Mindset

Do we really need another learning mindset? Carol Dweck's fixed and growth mindset theories have revolutionized the way we teach students to approach their learning. Yet we must not forget that education used to be solely focused on measurable outcomes and the "what" of learning. Unfortunately, in some schools and classrooms, this rigid definition of …

We’re All Developing at Something (Education Week featured article)

Sometimes the most impactful ideas that help reshape and improve your teaching come in small packages. That is how I feel about this little gem of an article written by Peg Grafwallner for Literacy and NCTE, the official blog of the National Council of Teachers of English. Struggling Reluctantly is Peg’s eloquent argument that when …

Fueling Your Growth Mindset: Two Interviews

I recently had the pleasure of doing two interviews. One was facilitated by Larry Ferlazzo from Education Week. Two other educators and I discussed articles that had a big impact on our teaching: BAM Radio 4/18/18. You can also read my EdWeek article on this subject. I also was interviewed by Melissa Hallman, a graduate student at Wilkes …

Benefit Mindset: Transforming Attitudes of Empathy into Acts of Altruism (Edutopia featured article)

As communal creatures, we all crave belonging. Feeling understood and integral among a wide variety of people creates connections that make our lives complete. At our core, each of us is searching for the feeling that “we are all in this together.” As I write in my book, Teaching the Benefit Mindset, acceptance and affinity are especially …

The Super-Ordinary Hero Project: Matching Growth Mindset with Benefit Mindset

"If more people follow their superpowers-- and everyone has one-- then we're going to be better as a society" (Adam Neumann, founder of WeWork, in Time magazine, 2016). Try this inspiring, interdisciplinary culminating project that works well with students at any grade level. Since kids of all ages are obsessed with superheroes, channel their natural interests …

Growth Mindset Is Not Enough: Edutopia featured article

We educators may be tempted to believe that once students develop growth mindset, they are adequately prepared to face life’s challenges and changes. While in one key respect this is true, outlook and affect are not nearly enough to thoroughly outfit any person with all it takes to attain one’s full potential. Possessing a positive …

Outcasts and Underdogs: 8 More Young Adult Books that Teach Gratitude, Grit, and Growth Mindset (Edutopia featured article)

Superheroes and superstars already captivate kids, and many could teach a master class on these subjects. The fresh perspective teachers offer is how students themselves can and should be heroes. As advocates of a growth mindset, teach children that heroism does not require obsession with perfection or product. When educators also value process and progress, …

The Fallacy of Failure: Getting Growth Mindset Right (ASCD featured article)

Using the word “failure” sends the wrong message to students about what true growth mindset entails. It is time to STOP telling kids to embrace failure and to instead help them persevere through everyday struggles, stumbles, and setbacks while on the way to eventual success. Failure is all the rage in education circles these days—but …

How to be a Fascinating Facilitator: The Teacher’s Lounge interview- part 2

I recently had the honor of being interviewed for a second time on The Teacher’s Lounge radio show podcast to talk about my book for teachers, The Firm, Fair, Fascinating Facilitator, and its companion workbook, The Teacher Tune-Up. (See below for a discount code directly through the publisher.) Where the first interview focused on positive classroom management (being firm) and …