Optimism is looking for the good in situations and believing things will work out for the best. Maintaining an attitude of optimism can be challenging, but it is essential to successful teaching. If we nurture an optimistic mindset that looks for the good and encourages high expectations for students and teachers, we can improve at almost anything we set our minds to.
When we truly believe in someone’s potential—whether it’s a student, a colleague, or ourselves—we can achieve remarkable results and growth. Studies in schools, businesses, and the military have shown that our thoughts can profoundly impact our achievements. When teachers adopt a more optimistic outlook toward their students, they become more patient, offer more positive feedback, and develop a stronger belief in their students’ potential.
The Pygmalion Effect
The Pygmalion Effect is a fascinating study by Dr. Robert Rosenthal demonstrating how our positive or negative labels can become self-fulfilling prophecies. In the study, researchers had college students care for two groups of rats, telling them that one group was bred to excel at running mazes (Bright Rats) while the other was expected to perform poorly (Dull Rats). However, these labels were randomly assigned, and there was no difference in the rats’ maze-running abilities.
After a few weeks of care, the students ran the rats through a maze. The randomly selected Bright Rats completed the maze faster and made fewer mistakes than the randomly selected Dull Rats!
The students caring for the Bright Rats unknowingly gave them more encouragement and handled them with greater care. Dr. Rosenthal believes that the students’ predetermined beliefs about the rats directly impacted their performance in the maze.
“If it can happen with rats, imagine how much more it can happen with children.”
– Dr. Robert Rosenthal
Students Randomly Labeled Late Bloomers Outperform Their Peers
In another study on the Pygmalion Effect in the Classroom, Rosenthal and Jacobson conducted research at an elementary school in California. They told teachers that 20% of the class had been identified as Late Bloomers and were expected to show significant improvement during the year. The teachers did not know that the students labeled Late Bloomers, like the Bright Rats, were randomly selected.
By the end of the school year, the randomly selected Late Bloomers showed significant academic improvement compared to their peers, particularly among the younger students.
Labels, both positive and negative, are extremely powerful for our students. We must choose them with great care. Dr. Rosenthal recommends using the label “Learner” for our students. This label opens up almost limitless possibilities!
Nurture a Growth Mindset
The brain’s remarkable ability to grow, known as brain plasticity, is a powerful reminder for teachers that our brains have an incredible capacity to develop at any age.
For an inspiring dose of optimism and growth mindset positivity, watch Dr. Michael Merzenich’s interview in this video from The Learner Lab: Growth Mindset, Leadership, and the Pygmalion Effect. His inspiring quote below begins at 11:34, but be sure to watch the entire amazing 15-minute video.
“We did experiments that showed that the brain is massively plastic at any age. It turns out that plasticity in the brain is its big trick. It’s the main thing that makes it so fantastic.
And I can prove it.Absolutely everyone has the capacity to be better at virtually anything.
With that understanding, miracles can occur, in your capacity to understand and do complicated things that you thought you never could do.
You are designed to be continuously improvable!
Nobody’s done!
Nobody’s defined what their limits are!I can tell you, whatever you think your limits are, you’re wrong!”
-Dr. Michael Merzenich
The YET Sign
Hanging a ‘YET‘ sign in your classroom is a simple and powerful way to remind students of their potential.
When students say they cannot do something, simply point to the sign and say, “You can’t do it YET”. If you ever feel discouraged, look at that same YET sign and gently remind yourself that you just haven’t succeeded YET—but you will! 🙂
If you teach younger students, consider sharing this powerful Sesame Street video with Janelle Monáe on ‘The Power of Yet.‘ You might even consider adjusting your grading system to A, B, C, and NY (Not Yet) to emphasize your students’ potential for growth.
Use Self-Talk to Challenge Limiting Thoughts About Your Students
- Notice a limiting thought about a student. The first step is always to notice 🙂
- Remind yourself that having limiting thoughts is natural and human.
You are certainly not alone, and no one is perfect. - Replace the limiting thought with a more empowering one.
Try this powerful thought inspired by Dr. Merzenich:
“Whatever you think THEIR limits are, you’re wrong!”
– Dr. Michael Merzenich
And if you notice a limiting thought about yourself, say to yourself:
“Whatever you think YOUR limits are, you’re wrong.”
Take Time to be Grateful
In a classic gratitude study, researchers asked participants to reflect on their day and write down three things they were grateful for. Compared to the control group, those who focused on gratitude reported higher levels of well-being, improved mood, and better physical health. The gratitude group also experienced better sleep and reported feeling more optimistic.
It seems too simple, but research shows that gratitude has immense power to shift how we view the world. It helps us to see ourselves and our students through a more optimistic lens.
I have created free long tone exercises for all musicians that support relaxation and remind teachers and students to be grateful.
You can find them on my MakeMusic Playlist: Long Tones for Relaxation and Gratitude Practice.
When your classroom or life feels challenging, take time each day to count your blessings. You can use my grateful breathing practices above, write down three things you are grateful for each evening, or just vividly recall one thing you are thankful for before you sleep. Find a gratitude habit that works for you, practice it daily, and you will become more optimistic.
Just Learning About These Tools Can Improve Your Optimism
Congratulations! Research suggests that by learning about the Pygmalion Effect, growth mindset, and the importance of gratitude, you’re on your way to becoming a more effective teacher! Studies by Christine Rubie-Davies suggest that simply learning about these concepts can lead to greater success in the classroom. May this powerful combination of tools help you stay optimistic, focused on the positive, and committed to helping both you and your students thrive.
A note from the author:
I am happy to hear from you with any questions or thoughts.
Please reach out at PeggyRakas@gmail.com and learn more about my work at TeachingPositivity.com.
A Final Word About MakeMusic Cloud
When we set high expectations for our students, it’s important not only to encourage them but also to provide the support they need to succeed.
One of the reasons I fell in love with MakeMusic Cloud was that it offers tools to assist students who need extra help while also enabling me to inspire, empower, and motivate all to exceed their expectations and reach their full potential. With the tools available in MakeMusic Cloud, a teacher can differentiate instruction by sending home an assignment that strengthens fundamentals or stretches a student out of their comfort zone. The student can slow down the recordings (many of them are just stunning), and students can click on notes to learn pitches or fingerings.
MakeMusic Cloud supplies the support that students need to go beyond their perceived limits. When used thoughtfully, it can help all students feel they have what they need to succeed.