As a Waukegan High School educator, success and failure are at the forefront of all conversations. We are constantly striving to find the best content, methods, and delivery to help our students succeed in our classes and as an individual. Mathematics in particular struggles with a “bad rep” for most students. (The “I was never good at math” or “I can’t do it” abound in the hallways.) Thus when Lumity came to Waukegan, there was no better subject to begin in, than math.
One of the first lessons we experienced with Lumity was regarding Growth Mindset. We watched a short video of examples focusing on famous individuals that endured because of their growth mindset, those that did not give up at the first failure, or second, or even twentieth. Students saw and heard examples of what it means to have a growth mindset- how they can achieve their goals with dedication, perseverance, but also the belief (mindset) that they can prosper.
Since this lesson, I have reminded the students any time they make a negative comment regarding their ability, to “have a growth mindset.” To remember that surly there is something they remember, something they can do. Because of the lesson, and my nagging, the students will now remind each other about the growth mindset and to turn any negative thought into an “I can” statement.
Heather Mader, Math Teacher
Waukegan High School
