The Power of Yet

Introduction

Concept: High school in Chicago uses the grade "Not Yet" instead of failing grades to encourage a growth mindset.
Impact: "Not Yet" implies that students are on a learning curve, providing hope and a sense of future growth.

Growth Mindset:
- Students embrace challenges and believe abilities can develop.
- Responses to difficult problems include excitement and hope for learning.
Fixed Mindset:
- Students feel devastated by failure, seeing it as a judgment of their intelligence.
- They tend to avoid challenges and may resort to cheating or comparing themselves negatively with others.

Studies show different brain activities:
- Fixed Mindset: Minimal brain activity when facing errors; avoid engagement.
- Growth Mindset: High brain activity; engage deeply with errors and learn from them.

Current Issues:
- Are we raising children focused solely on grades?
- Are they seeking constant validation?
Employer Concerns: Employers feel young workers lack resilience and need praise to function.

Praise Wisely:
- Focus on praising effort, strategies, focus, perseverance, and improvement, not intelligence or talent.
Rewarding "Yet":
- New online math game developed rewarding effort and process, leading to increased engagement and perseverance.
Use of Language:
- The words "yet" or "not yet" help instill confidence and persistence in students.
Teaching Neuroplasticity:
- Educating students that struggle leads to stronger brain connections fosters resilience.

Studies show:
- Students not taught growth mindset experienced declining grades, while those who learned it rebounded sharply.
- This method has been effective for thousands of struggling students.

Underperforming Groups:
- Examples: Children in inner cities or Native American students.
- Often seen as inevitable underperformance.
Success Stories:
- Harlem kindergarten class scored in the 95th percentile on the National Achievement Test.
- South Bronx fourth graders ranked first on state math tests.
- Native American students outperformed affluent peers in Seattle.
Transformation:
- Change in perception of effort and difficulty; viewed as opportunities for growth.

A Call for Change:
- Acknowledgment of the potential for growth in all students.
- Importance of creating environments that foster a growth mindset and opportunities for improvement.
- Urgent need to ensure all children access environments filled with the concept of "yet."

Final thought: Let's not waste lives; every child deserves to thrive in a supportive learning environment.