English: Mistakes provide the next lesson.

Thanks to a Twitter item this morning, I read this article: The beauty of unfinished work. Here's a takeaway message from that article:

Mistakes provide the next lesson.

Looking for an image to use, I remembered a great one that Magistra Susan had found at Cheezburger. So, I made a poster with that one:

I really liked the Latin version that Susan had done, so I also animated that by adding an English translation; you can see more of her Latin growth mindset memes at her Cheezburger Board: Digital Magistra:

Conabor rursus cras.

I will try again tomorrow.

The best projects are open-ended.

This cat was inspired by an Edutopia article: Creativity in the Classroom by Nicholas Provenzano.

The best projects are open-ended.

(picture from cheezburger)

Stay focused and pay attention.

As the semester gets more hectic, it gets harder and harder to stay focused and pay attention. But growth requires awareness...and you have to keep aware!

The image is from cheezburger.

Stay focused and pay attention.

English: Difficult is not impossible.

Difficult is not impossible.

One of my favorite educators at Google+, Larry Ferlazzo, shared this funny little video which inspired today's growth cat: good kitty indeed!

Sometimes you might be tempted to take the easy way, and sometimes you might even think that difficult IS impossible... but you should try to see what you can do: maybe difficult is not impossible after all! The image is from cheezburger.

Observe others: the task is possible!

This quote is inspired by a passage from Chapter 2 of Laura Ritchie's book, Fostering Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Students (2015).

Ritchie writes: "Vicarious learning can be effective when introducing completely new material or when rebuilding students are less than successful experiences. [...] Watching others can communicate a sense that the task is possible."

Observe others: the task is possible!

(The image is from cheezburger.)

English: Practice to get good results.

This blog post is one of several inspired by a Chris Hildrew blog post: Growth Mindset Misconceptions and Missteps.

Here are some more cats inspired by that same post!

Made with a Cheezburger cat:

Practice to get good results.

Stretch yourself and reach your goal.

For those who are making New Year's Resolutions:

Stretch yourself and reach your goal.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

English: First, I make a plan.

This quote is inspired by a passage from Chapter 4 of Laura Ritchie's book, Fostering Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Students (2015).

Ritchie writes: "Zimmerman also differentiates naive and experienced learners, and stresses that less experienced learners tend to react to learning instead of preparing effectively through forethought. In the forethought stage, students use their existing knowledge and experience to form self-efficacy beliefs, making judgments about their capabilities for the tasks ahead."

First, I make a plan.

(image is from cheezburger)

English. Use your brain: reflect!

This is the 26th in a series of cats to illustrate Howard Gardner's theory of "multiple intelligences," which is a very important concept for growth mindset: you can grow ALL those intelligences... just use your brain! You can find out more at Wikipedia or by consulting the infographic and video at the bottom of this post. This cat is developing an intelligence in the intra-personal realm:

Use your brain: reflect!

Image is at cheezburger.

Both the infographic and video are by Marek Bennett:

Stay creative: break the rules.

Today's cat was inspired by the "Stay Creative" infographic below. The image is from cheezburger. Here are some more Stay-Creative Cats.

Stay creative: break the rules.

This great graphic is designed by Islam Abudaoud. You can see the full-size infographic here, and it's also been made into a Vimeo video!

English: I don't let the past bring me down.

This quote is inspired by a passage from Chapter 4 of Laura Ritchie's book, Fostering Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Students (2015).

Ritchie writes: "Past experiences also influence a student's beliefs when approaching new projects, with positive experiences effectively building self-efficacy beliefs and negative experiences bringing them down."

I don't let the past bring me down.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

English: Think independently.

A friend at Google+ shared this post with me, and I found it very helpful:  The cognitive biases that are killing your decisions by Jory Mackay.

From the post: "Groupthink—a phenomenon where the desire for harmony among the group causes outside opinions to be suppressed. All of a sudden, dissenting thoughts become toxic and we begin to self-censor—losing our individual creativity, uniqueness, and independent thinking."

Jim Hightower quote in the post: "The opposite of courage is not cowardice; it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow."

Don't be afraid to be different!

Think independently.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

Deeper learning calls for an impulse from the student.

This quote is inspired by a passage from Chapter 1 of Laura Ritchie's book, Fostering Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Students (2015).

Ritchie writes: "Deeper learning calls for something to come from the student: an impulse, or creativity of thought."

Deeper learning calls for an impulse from the student.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

My skills bring success.

This quote is inspired by a passage from Chapter 4 of Laura Ritchie's book, Fostering Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Students (2015).

Ritchie writes: "Early in schooling children attribute success to effort and hard work, but as they grow there is more of an understanding of skills and their own cognitive processes."

My skills bring success.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

I'm ready for a challenge.

This quote is inspired by a passage from Chapter 2 of Laura Ritchie's book, Fostering Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Students (2015).

Ritchie writes:  "People who have high levels of self-efficacy also tend to exhibit a range of positive qualities. They are more likely to choose more challenging tasks, undertake strategic thinking, work harder, exhibit resilience, and attain higher outcomes. [...] Failure is less of a deterrent, and they use resources creatively and seek possible solutions before giving up. Overall they persist longer and achieve more."

I'm ready for a challenge.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

I watch with deliberate attention.

This quote is inspired by a passage from Chapter 4 of Laura Ritchie's book, Fostering Self-Efficacy in Higher Education Students (2015).

Ritchie writes: "If student-observers watch with deliberate and focused attention, they can also form links with other areas of their knowledge and experience. Making a mental record of events, having in-class or online discussions, and written descriptions or notes all assist the student to review, reflect on, and access processes within the specific scenario demonstrated to them."

I watch with deliberate attention.

(The image is from cheezburger.)

You must persist despite setbacks.

This cat was inspired by a presentation called From Mindset: The Psychology of Learning and Achievement by Emily Magruder.

You must persist despite setbacks.

(image is from cheezburger)

Here is the specific slide that inspired this item:

Stay creative: be open.

Today's cat was inspired by the "Stay Creative" infographic below. The image is from cheezburger. Here are some more Stay-Creative Cats.

Stay creative: be open.

This great graphic is designed by Islam Abudaoud. You can see the full-size infographic here, and it's also been made into a Vimeo video!

Stay creative: don't give up.

Today's cat was inspired by the "Stay Creative" graphic below. The image is from cheezburger. Here are some more Stay-Creative Cats.

Stay creative: don't give up.

This great graphic is designed by Islam Abudaoud. You can see the full-size infographic here, and it's also been made into a Vimeo video!

Use your brain: explore!

This is the LAST in a series of cats to illustrate Howard Gardner's theory of "multiple intelligences," which is a very important concept for growth mindset: you can grow ALL those intelligences... just use your brain! You can find out more at Wikipedia or by consulting the infographic and video at the bottom of this post. This is another example of naturalist intelligence, and it is the last of the "Multiple Intelligence Cats." I hope you have enjoyed them!

Use your brain: explore!

Image by Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue at Flickr.

Both the infographic and video are by Marek Bennett: