Getting Into a Growth Mindset
With the school year in full swing for everyone, kindergarten students up through doctoral students, I wanted to take an opportunity to talk about preparing to learn. The Harvard Business Review has outlined some really great advantages to cultivating a growth mindset, but how we get there is a whole other thing.
I think that cultivating a growth mindset, at it’s most ideal, starts in childhood. As a very young child, I remember my mom saying, “If you can read you can cook.” This was sometimes said to me in exasperation as I skimmed through an ingredient list and instructions before completely botching a recipe, but usually, it was a positive reminder that if you can read you can do anything. Reading has brought about a number of positive learning experiences, including reading history to learn from and appreciate from the experiences of others.
Apart from reading, there are some practical things that I think can be helpful in getting into a learning or growth mindset regardless of your age.
- Make sure your physical needs are taken care of. Do you feel comfortable in your skin? Are you fed and hydrated?
- I realize the irony of saying this but dedicate time in your day to be away from screens.
- If you’re in a class that is measured in credit hours, know that you should be taking two hours a week outside of class per credit. So if you’re enrolled in a 4 credit class, take 8 hours a week outside of class.
- Find a note-taking system that works for you. Of all the ones I’ve tried, Cornell notes keep me engaged in reading and help me go back and review effectively.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://rachelahanson.blog/2018/09/14/76341/