Most math teachers I’ve spoken with agree that struggling students feel they are not smart and they are not good at math. Telling them they are can actually run counter to helping them build a positive attitude. Learning how to praise a student and how often to praise a student are critical skills that all successful math teachers learn.
A recent article on developing a growth mindset by Savanna Flakes, EdS suggests using praise to reinforce the belief that students can achieve at high levels through hard work and effort. “Focus on highlighting student effort throughout a task,” she advises “not only the final product.”
This is exactly why we spent the last year creating interactivity, including ongoing praise for effort, throughout each Ascend Math video lesson.
To read Dr. Flakes’ excellent article click here http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/inclusion-corner-encouraging-our-students-to-have-a-growth-mindset/education
You can view samples of Ascend Math’s interactive video lessons at http://ascendmath.com/student_experience/index.html