Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential through Creative Mathematics, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching (Mindset Mathematics)

by Jo Boaler

“Do you know what just happened? When you got that answer wrong your brain grew, but when you got the answer right, nothing happened in your brain; there was no brain growth.” This is the sort of one‐to‐one interaction teachers can have with their students when they make mistakes. She looked at me with widening eyes, and I knew that she had understood the importance of the idea. Now, she is a different student: she embraces mistakes and feels positive about herself. This has come about not from teaching her more math or other work but by teaching her to have a growth mindset.