The Power of Praise

A friend and reader of my blog recently made me aware of this AMAZING video on the power of praise. (Thanks Stephanie!!!!) I remember reading the study from Carol Dweck about how praise can help or hurt a child’s ability to develop a “growth mindset” or the belief that we can grow and change. When we praise the wrong things, we can actually encourage students and children to develop a “fixed mindset”, or the belief that we are born the way we are (good or bad at math for example).

Praise Can be Good or Bad, Depending on What and How you Praise

Check out the video and post your comments below:

If you want to read more on this topic, there is a great blogger (also a twin mom) I recently met via Twitter and this blog (!) who has recently written about this study as well. (Get outta my head!) It’s the article I would have written if she didn’t already do it for me. 🙂 Check out her great piece here on her blog, SleepingShouldBeEasy:

Were you praised as a child? What impact did it have on your development of a fixed vs. growth mindset? How does this inform your parenting or teaching?