Encouraging a Learning Mindset

At Action Read we know that a learning “mindset” can greatly affect learner success. Learners with a “growth” mindset believe that their skills and capabilities can grow and are likely to put in the effort and perseverance required to make positive changes.  They are innately curious and don’t shy away from challenges because they realize that these provide opportunities for growth.

Some learners however, do not truly believe that they can grow and develop their skills in a significant way. Their mindset is more “fixed”. Negative and traumatic educational experiences may have contributed to this belief.  They may have had learning disabilities, or family challenges that created real obstacles to learning, but as these were never well understood by their teachers or themselves, they never received the support they needed.  They have come to believe that they aren’t really “smart”.  These negative voices sap the energy and motivation needed to set goals or work hard towards their goals.

Doug and Peter

As Action Read tutors and staff members, we must be mindful not to reinforce a “fixed mindset” assumption, however unintentionally. Working with learners with a more “fixed mindset” can be challenging, but there is lots we can do to support, coach and encourage them to adopt a self-concept that is more open to learning and its challenges. Here are some tips to do this;

• Encourage, encourage, encourage!  A smile or kind word goes much further than you could ever imagine.
• Provide continual support and feedback.  Praise effort.  Providing specific and constructive feedback on how a learner can improve can be very helpful too.
• Acknowledge: Remind learners that with effort, persistence and support significant growth is possible for everyone and that their confidence will grow with their learning success. It gets easier as you experience success, however small! Make sure successes, however small, are acknowledged and celebrated.
• Maintain high but appropriately leveled expectations while providing learners with the tools and support they need to succeed.  Expect success, but know that success for someone with a significant learning challenge may be measured much differently than for a student who does not have significant learning barriers.  For example, a learner who experiences significant decoding challenges should be celebrated if they stick to learning, and demonstrate tenacity and effort.  For such a  learner, this may be huge!

Michael and Setan

A growth mindset can be nurtured by learners independently in very practical ways as well.  Although an Action Read tutor may see a learner for as little as 2 or 3 hours a week, their time between sessions can be put to excellent use!  We can guide learners to improve their literacy and numeracy skills outside Action Read by adopting a learning mindset in their daily lives. Here are some tips that may work for your learner;

• Use your public library.  It has books and resources on almost any subject imaginable!
• Watch 30 fewer minutes of television a day, or watch the news instead
• Do 30 minutes of any kind of exercise 3-5 times a week
• Listen to radio talk shows, documentaries or e-books to expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills
• Watch a documentary or educational program instead of a reality TV show
• Learn about other countries and continents
• Attend events, readings or talks that are being held in your city

Richard reading the paper.

Tips to improve numeracy

• Play games such as bingo, Monopoly, Connect 4 & Yatzee  
• Play card games such as solitaire, hearts, euchre
• Rehearse multiplication tables in head when waiting
• For addition and subtraction, use an abacus or another counting aid to help learners who learn best through sight and touch
• Watch sporting events and pay attention to the scoreboard
• Learn how to bake and use measurements
• Use analog watches and clocks to tell time. Remember though that some adults may never have learned how to tell time this way, and that these individuals may need additional support in understanding and using fractions

Tips to improve reading and writing

• Read nutrition labels and ingredients on food
• Read dish details when ordering from a menu
• Attempt a crossword puzzle or any other word game
• Read newspapers instead of watching the news
• Bring a book with you and read whenever you have to wait or have time to spare
• Listen to books on tape while following along with the novel
• Turn subtitles on while watching movies and T.V. shows

Tips to improve financial literacy skills

• Count change after making a purchase  
• Make a reasonable entertainment budget for the week and do not exceed
• Use online/ debit transactions to keep track of money better
• Keep all change in a jar or container and count/use it every so often
• Always ask for and review receipts

Sources: Centre for Teaching and Learning Brigham University

 Jordan Barrera, Action Read Student Placement