Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Growth Mindset Theme: Curiosity

The growth mindset approach is composed of many different interwoven themes, and I'll be using this blog as a way to collect materials relevant to those different themes. One of the themes that is most appealing to me is CURIOSITY. Here are some thoughts about the importance of curiosity in growth mindset:

Quotes from Carol Dweck's book Mindset:
About a precocious child named Michael: Michael must have started with a special ability, but, for me, the most outstanding feature is his extreme love of learning and challenge. [...] Most often people believe that the "gift" is the ability itself. yet what feeds it is that constant, endless curiosity and challenge seeking. 
About a football player named Faulk: As he watched [football], he was always asking the question Why? "Why are we running this play?" "What are we attacking it this way?" "Why are we doing that?" "Why are they doing this?" "That question," Faulk says, "basically got me involved in football in a more in-depth way." Faulk sees his skills as the product of his insatiable curiosity and study. 
About Thomas Edison: Young Tom was taken with experiments and mechanical things (perhaps more avidly than most), but machines and technology were part of the ordinary midwestern boy's experience. What eventually set him apart was his mindset and drive. He never stopped being the curious, tinkering boy looking for new challenges.
Some articles to read: 

What’s Going on Inside the Brain Of A Curious Child? by Maanvi Singh (MindShift)

Curious Schools: The Secret to Improving Education by Bernard Bull

The Future Belongs to the Curious: How Are We Bringing Curiosity Into School? by Jackie Gerstein

How to Spark Curiosity in Children Through Embracing Uncertainty by Linda Flanagan

Cultivating Curiosity in Our Students as a Catalyst for Learning by Maryellen Weimer

And cats:

It was the proverbial association of cats and curiosity that first got me interested in creating the growth mindset cats!








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