--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I teach a freshman seminar every year…" description: "\"I teach a freshman seminar every year, and we delve very, very deeply into their mindsets. They read scientific articles, but we also focus on what the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/carol-s-dweck-3250_education_i-teach-a-freshman-seminar-every-year-an_479182.png" --- # I teach a freshman seminar every year, and we delve very… ![“I teach a freshman seminar every year, and we delve very, very deeply into their mindsets. They read scientific articles, but we also focus on what their mindset is, and they learn to recognize when they are in more of a fixed mindset, because we're all a mixture.” quote by Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/carol-s-dweck-3250_education_i-teach-a-freshman-seminar-every-year-an_479182.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/carol-s-dweck-3250_education_i-teach-a-freshman-seminar-every-year-an_479182.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/725/carol-s-dweck-3250_education_i-teach-a-freshman-seminar-every-year-an_479182.png) > “I teach a freshman seminar every year, and we delve very, very deeply into their mindsets. They read scientific articles, but we also focus on what their mindset is, and they learn to recognize when they are in more of a fixed mindset, because we're all a mixture.” [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores how students' mindsets affect learning, encouraging awareness of fixed vs. growth attitudes. **In simple terms:** Understanding mindset helps improve learning. Key Takeaway Identify and shift fixed mindsets. Themes mindset learning self‑awareness Mood reflective inspirational Type educational motivational When to use this quote - classroom discussions - student self‑reflection - coaching sessions Key Concepts growth mindset fixed mindset metacognition Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice a fixed mindset in yourself? - What strategies help you adopt a growth mindset? A Different Perspective Mindset change can be slow and resistance may arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Fixed Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixed-mindset/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Mindsets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindsets/) ## Related quotes > [“When people with the fixed mindset opt for success over growth, what are they really trying to prove? That they’re special. Even superior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-people-with-the-fixed-mindset-opt-for-success-over-growth-what/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Everyone is a mixture of fixed and growth mindsets. You could have a predominant growth mindset in an area, but there can still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/everyone-is-a-mixture-of-fixed-and-growth-mindsets-you-could-have-a/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“Believing that your qualities are carved in stone—the fixed mindset—creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/believing-that-your-qualities-are-carved-in-stone-the-fixed-mindset/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [If I were a teacher, I would like to teach freshman English - so I could be the Robin Williams type in 'Dead Poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-johnson/if-i-were-a-teacher-i-would-like-to-teach-freshman-english-so-i-could-2/) [Jake Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-johnson/) > [If I were a teacher, I would like to teach freshman English - so I could be the Robin Williams type in Dead Poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-m-johnson/if-i-were-a-teacher-i-would-like-to-teach-freshman-english-so-i-could/) [Jake M. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-m-johnson/) > [“With the right Mindset...effective thinking is automatic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/with-the-right-mindset-effective-thinking-is-automatic/) Tony Dovale - ReThink Your Success Mindset tonydovalespeaks.com > [“Policy-makers continue to discover that they cannot solve today’s problems with yesterday’s mindsets”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/widad-akrawi/policy-makers-continue-to-discover-that-they-cannot-solve-today-s/) [Widad Akrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/widad-akrawi/) > [“A fixed mindset causes people to fear failure; they don’t want to try anything that might damage their current sense of ability and intelligence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sturt/a-fixed-mindset-causes-people-to-fear-failure-they-don-t-want-to-try/) [David Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sturt/) > [“To the fixed-mindset person, intelligence and skill are seen as a sum game. Either you can do math or you can’t. You’re artistic or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-young/to-the-fixed-mindset-person-intelligence-and-skill-are-seen-as-a-sum/) [Valerie Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-young/) > [“Building your and other capacity to be an active learner requires a growth mindset, which is the belief that people's basic qualities can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kouzes-posner/building-your-and-other-capacity-to-be-an-active-learner-requires-a/) Kouzes/Posner > [My job, as I've said, is to break down sectionalism, vested interests and a fixed mindset of merely following precedents, so that I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihide-suga/my-job-as-i-ve-said-is-to-break-down-sectionalism-vested-interests/) [Yoshihide Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihide-suga/) > [“Rethink Your Success Mindset: With the right mindset, everything that you experience, along your journey towards success, is a blessing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rethink-your-success-mindset-with-the-right-mindset-everything-that/) Tony Dovale - ReThink Your Success Mindset tonydovalespeaks.com > [Maybe you don't know how to do something at work. Instead of asking the boss or seeking someone as a mentor, you might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/maybe-you-don-t-know-how-to-do-something-at-work-instead-of-asking/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [With a fixed mindset, you're so worried about how smart or talented you are, you don't take on challenges. You don't try new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/with-a-fixed-mindset-you-re-so-worried-about-how-smart-or-talented/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Males and females can both have a fixed mindset about math and science, but it hurts girls more because they are on the negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/males-and-females-can-both-have-a-fixed-mindset-about-math-and/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## More by Carol S. Dweck > [“you aren’t a failure until you start to blame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/you-aren-t-a-failure-until-you-start-to-blame/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“tune in to the messages you’re sending. Are they messages that say: You have permanent traits and I’m judging them? Or are they messages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/tune-in-to-the-messages-you-re-sending-are-they-messages-that-say-you/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [A company that cannot self-correct cannot thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/a-company-that-cannot-self-correct-cannot-thrive/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [...when people already know they're deficient, they have nothing to lose by trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-people-already-know-they-re-deficient-they-have-nothing-to-lose/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Most experts and great leaders agree that leaders are made, not born, and that they are made through their own drive for learning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/most-experts-and-great-leaders-agree-that-leaders-are-made-not-born/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“Genius is not enough; we need to get the job done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/genius-is-not-enough-we-need-to-get-the-job-done/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [Why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/why-seek-out-the-tried-and-true-instead-of-experiences-that-will/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [What can I learn from this? What will I do next time I'm in this situation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/what-can-i-learn-from-this-what-will-i-do-next-time-i-m-in-this/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [When we praise children for their intelligence, we tell them that this is the name of the game: Look smart; don't risk making mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-we-praise-children-for-their-intelligence-we-tell-them-that-this/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [We're not saying people don't need fuel for strenuous work; they just don't need it constantly. People have many more resources at hand than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/we-re-not-saying-people-don-t-need-fuel-for-strenuous-work-they-just/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“What on earth would make someone a nonlearner? Everyone is born with an intense drive to learn. Infants stretch their skills daily. Not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/what-on-earth-would-make-someone-a-nonlearner-everyone-is-born-with/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-passion-for-stretching-yourself-and-sticking-to-it-even-or/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [The whole point of marriage is to encourage your partner's development and have them encourage yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/the-whole-point-of-marriage-is-to-encourage-your-partner-s/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [“When people with the fixed mindset opt for success over growth, what are they really trying to prove? That they’re special. Even superior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/when-people-with-the-fixed-mindset-opt-for-success-over-growth-what/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) > [I'm such an egghead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/i-m-such-an-egghead/) [Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) [Explore all 135 Carol S. Dweck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I teach a freshman seminar every year, and we delve very, very deeply into their mindsets. 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