Scientific American: Beyond IQ: Youngsters Who Can Focus on the Task at Hand Do Better in Math
Attention span and reasoning may get higher marks than intelligence, especially in math
I have often noted, as a high school math teacher, a direct relationship between a student's ability to focus and persevere through a lesson and/or problem and what they ended up learning, retaining, and what grades they earn. Attention span and follow-through seem to be real issues affecting students' learning, and not just for those with diagnosed ADD or ADHD. One of the key factors to attain this is that people who have a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, can perform and focus better. A growth mindset is one that is focused on personal improvement. A fixed mindset views math ability (or other abilities) as genetic or innate or left or to fate, and thus students think their math performance is 'out of their hands'.
Attention span and reasoning may get higher marks than intelligence, especially in math
I have often noted, as a high school math teacher, a direct relationship between a student's ability to focus and persevere through a lesson and/or problem and what they ended up learning, retaining, and what grades they earn. Attention span and follow-through seem to be real issues affecting students' learning, and not just for those with diagnosed ADD or ADHD. One of the key factors to attain this is that people who have a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, can perform and focus better. A growth mindset is one that is focused on personal improvement. A fixed mindset views math ability (or other abilities) as genetic or innate or left or to fate, and thus students think their math performance is 'out of their hands'.
