In the article "Even Geniuses Work Hard" by Carol S. Dweck, the author affirms the idea that an effective classroom must focus on the learning process through challenges. Students can become obsessed with earning high grades, and forget about the value gained through learning. If a teacher promotes challenges as a good thing, and failure as an opportunity to learn, the classroom will be more positive, engaging, and welcoming for the students. This is called the "growth-mindset", and encourages students to try new things, even though they won't be perfect at them. I fully intend to employ the growth mindset in my classroom, as a way to show my students that school is about so much more than earning an "A".
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