Dad, I can't do this

I have really enjoyed reading Mindset by Carol Dweck. It has forced me to rethink my conversations with my sons as a parent and as an educator when giving students feedback. In conversations with my son he will from time to time reference the fact that he is not able to achieve a specific task. I’m quick to insert “yet” to the end of his sentences when he finishes describing what he can’t do. This is the power of the growth mindset that I have used on myself in the ADL program when I have been faced with new challenges. The growth mindset is achieved through the process of failing forward. This required me to change my mindset as I viewed failure. To be honest when I started my first course I was completely distrubed when I made an 88% on an assignment. But after I viewed the feedback I was completely appreciative for the feedback and worked to improve the assignment. Therefore, I was reminded that the grade wasn’t a reflection on who I was as a person, but an opportunity to learn and improve in the process. This is only achieved in the process of giving feedforward feedback.