YET - It Makes ALL the Difference

I began last school year with a goal to create a growth mindset culture in my classroom. YET was the most powerful word we used. At the end of the year, 60% of my students said that being exposed to YET has changed their lives and they will continue to think of yet as they move on. This means they believe they can learn what is being taught; they just haven't learned it yet. And I teach struggling 8th-grade students! How did this happen?

1.  I, the teacher, changed much of the language I use in my teaching. No longer do I say, "I don't know." Instead, I say, "I don't know yet." I tell my students I expect they will fail while trying to learn - that's how they learn.  It's how I learn. When a student is upset with failing at something, I tell them, "That's an awful lot of room for learning - let's grow together!".

2.  I spent 5 minutes of class time a week showing a motivational video that involves someone who succeeded after many attempts at failing. These could be movie clips, cartoons, inspirational stories, etc. After a while, my students starting showing me things I should share during this time.

3. I began giving points for effort (students must explain thinking to me about why they have the answer they do). I began giving opportunities for re-doing work after these conversations. Funny thing happened. Students actually wanted to re-do work. Because they were learning, not for a grade!

4. I stopped allowing, "I don't know" as an answer when a student is called on.  Students must say, "I don't know YET, but I want to." It's very powerful.  I make sure to get back to them during discussion so they can show they learned the missing information. Most of the time they do. Because they actually paid attention after they didn't know an answer. Amazing!  I even heard that students were saying "yet" in other classes when someone would answer, "I don't know," because it became automatic.

Changing the culture in my classroom to one that values learning, failing, trying again, and acknowledging that we don't know everything - YET had such a positive effect for students. They believe they can learn. They want to learn. They learn. And they know they can learn when they leave me. All because of "YET".  WOW!

And it took very little time and effort on my part.

Yet - It Makes All the Difference!  Try it!