Wherever in the world you happened to be educated, you’ve learnt certain systems and processes for completing mathematical tasks. In the coming series of blogs, we’re not here to share the processes of completing math tasks per se, but the pedagogy behind the implementation of math.
Finland Math is a pedagogical concept that makes mathematics learning and teaching more effective, fun and engaging. It considers placing students at the centre of the learning process and engaging the teacher as the expert ‘guide on the side’.
Finland has big dreams about spreading our educational processes and pedagogy around the world — but we are also humble and practical. Nobody’s suggesting that you transform your whole curriculum overnight, hoping that it will match the Finnish curriculum and world-famous outcomes.
But what we’re aiming to do over the next few blogs is share some of our secrets. We also invite you to examine your own math pedagogy and whether any of what we share might be relevant to your educational context.
First up, the overarching theme of Finland Math is to instil a practice of growth mindset into our students. This means, modelling and allowing mistakes to be made as a stepping stone to learning. After all, that’s what life is all about. A series of victories and stumbling blocks on the way to achieving outcomes. For both teachers and students.
What is growth mindset?
Stanford University Professor Carol Dweck has studied kids’ thinking skills and mindsets for over 30 years. She claims that even though we all embody both mindsets, we tend toward either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.
A fixed mindset assumes that character, intelligence and creative ability are innate/ fixed. A growth mindset thrives on challenge and sees failure as a springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities.
Students who cultivate a growth mindset perform better, are able to try new challenges, learn from their mistakes and handle study stress better. Students who have a fixed mindset tend to be perfectionists and actively avoid taking risks or making mistakes.
Helping our students cultivate a growth mindset takes practice and patience from our teachers. It’s about changing student’s (and our own) attitudes and finding words and actions that help them sustain interest and determination. Finland Math helps children learn from their mistakes without stress. This enables teachers to develop and model a growth mindset attitude in their students.
In the next blog, we’ll share some practical tips to support this philosophy and practice. Until then, stay curious.
Eduten is Finland’s number #1 digital learning platform, is embedded with growth mindset philosophy. To set up a free four-week trial of the program in your classroom today, contact us here.
Hey, did you know that we have a popular podcast about growth mindset, featuring none other than Dr. Kirsi Tirri. Dr. Tirri is a professor of education at Helsinki University and trains pre-service teachers about this important theory. Get this podcast in your ears by clicking this link.
