Limitless Mind

An elementary teacher with whom I’ve exchanged book thoughts sent this to me toward the end of the school year. I’m not sure why, but I always feel like I’ve been paid a great compliment when someone purchases a book for me. It’s like they are saying, “Hey, I see you, and I think this is something you’ll like.”

The teacher is correct. I really appreciate the lessons in this book. Boaler expands on Dweck’s work about the fixed versus growth mindsets. Each chapter focuses on one of “six keys to learning,” and the keys make sense with little necessary explanation.

Dweck’s work covers a couple of the keys, particularly loving our mistakes. We need to make mistakes to learn, or at the very least we need to take risks and struggle. Too often we praise achievements of children (and adults) that require little to zero struggle, so when those folks do encounter something that requires work and struggle, they think they can’t do it and they give up. We need to openly value the struggle that learning brings.

The information on multidimensional thinking (opening up to different solutions), flexibility over speed (speed of thinking isn’t an indicator of aptitude), and collaboration is enlightening. I particularly like the stories and how Boaler demonstrates how these can be integrated into teaching.

Finally, toward the end of the book, Boaler briefly writes about the research that demonstrates those with a growth mindset are less aggressive toward other people. I find this fascinating, and I’d like to see an expanded section on this information.

Before finishing this book, I sent information about it to one of our new principals and our new math coach. I’d like to see a book study in a school on this book with highlights from the online course offered through Stanford. I think it could transform a school.