Are you looking for ways to teach students how to get a growth mindset? Research shows that there is a link between a growth mindset and success. In addition, kids who have a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom. These are 5 lessons every student should experience as a review or introduction to having a growth mindset.
Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Check out The Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys for students to use in your classroom to cultivate a growth mindset in mathematics. You can also sign up for other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
After reading the book “Mathematical Mindset” by Jo Bolar, I realized I needed to start teaching a growth mindset to students. I spent hours finding literature books to read to students and creating lessons, but I felt like I was all over the place. So I decided to come up with 5 core concepts I wanted to teach students and create lessons that covered those key points. Having these 5 core lessons has ensured all my students have these key points and saved me a lot of time planning. And I am always looking for ways to save time planning!
Here is a quick overview of the concepts and then the 5 lessons I came up with to introduce the ideas to my students.
What Does it Mean?
The way we think is called our “mindset.” Mindset is present in virtually every aspect of our lives and heavily influences the lens through which we see the world. There are two different kinds of mindsets: fixed mindset and growth mindset.
Define a Growth Mindset
People with growth mindsets believe that they can develop their skills, talents, and abilities over time with hard work, effort, and perseverance. Thus, our qualities are not inherent, but our willingness to learn, effort, and persistence determine how well we do.
Your skills can be improved with experience and effort, regardless of where you started. With hard work and perseverance, anyone can achieve success in any area. Failures are viewed as opportunities for improvement. Therefore, all children can be successful.
What is The Difference Between Growth and Fixed Mindset?
People with fixed mindsets have the belief that intelligence and talent are abilities that we are born with. They are fixed traits that cannot be significantly developed, and some people just have a talent for things that others do not.
People with a growth mindset believe our qualities are not inherent or natural but that our willingness to learn, effort, and persistence dictate how well we do.
All people have both mindsets, and it’s more a matter of which mindset you’re prone to choose in certain situations. And with this new information, to reframe challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth.
Teaching Growth Mindset to Students
When you get students to buy into the idea that the brain can grow and get stronger, motivation improves, and students strive to do better in school.
A growth mindset is all about practice and persistence, taking new challenges, and understanding that failures are just part of the process.
Having students do fun Math Puzzles or other engaging activities helps build a positive attitude toward math. You can also sign up to receive 71 Math Puzzles to try out HERE.
What is an Example of a Growth Mindset?
History is filled with people who worked hard, refused to give up, and succeeded against all odds. People who have a growth mindset are more resilient when things get hard and focus on the process.
- “I can always improve at something if I try.” You don’t give up at the first sign of failure. Rather, you believe that the more effort you put into something, the better you will become.
- “What can I do better next time to make this work?” A part of learning from your failures is being able to see where you went wrong and identify how you could do things differently next time.
5 Growth Mindset Lesson Plans Elementary Level
Research has shown that teaching students the concept of a growth mindset and how they can harness its power can positively impact student achievement. They need to learn that they can achieve in all areas and that struggling is part of the process. We need to help them understand the connection between effort and improvement.
Introducing students to these ideas by reading books, showing videos, and having discussions throughout the year will foster a positive classroom environment. Over time, students will start using the language of someone with a positive mindset.
Here are 5 lessons for students I believe are essential first steps in teaching students about mindset. Find ready-to-use versions of these lessons HERE with lesson plans, Google Slides with talking points and digital and printable worksheets for students to complete. These lesson plans also contain suggested books and videos to use with students.
Lesson 1: Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
This lesson is to introduce the idea that everyone can learn. In addition, to the views of having a fixed or a growth mindset.
I like to give this Math Mindset Survey for students as a starting point before talking about growth mindset. Then again, at the end of the year, see how their mindset changed through practice and effort.
After learning about the different mindsets and defining them, students can listen to a book, complete a brain sketch, and sort sayings.
Key Points:
- Believe intelligence and abilities can be improved upon with effort and the right strategies.
- Success comes from hard work and learning
- You can learn, change, and develop needed skills.
- View mistakes as a tool to grow and learn.
Lesson 2: I Can Grow My Brain
This lesson is to introduce the idea that our brains can grow to learn new things. After listening to a book and learning about the brain, students can complete a brain sketch activity.
Key Points:
- Your brain is like a muscle.
- When you do challenging problems, you are exercising it so it can get stronger.
- That makes you smarter and stronger.
- It is ok to make mistakes.
- It is important you do not give up.
- The more we practice and challenge our brain, the stronger it gets.
- If you keep trying again and again, your brain will grow!
Lesson 3: I Can Learn from My Mistakes
This lesson is to introduce the idea that we can learn from our mistakes. After listening to a book about learning from our mistakes, students can complete a learning from our mistakes activity.
Key Points:
- Mistakes help you learn and grow.
- Mistakes show us how we can improve and keep learning.
- Sometimes your mistakes tell you that you need to put in more effort, try harder, or slow down.
- Practice looking at mistakes as a great way to learn.
- Mistakes are how we improve and get better.
Lesson 4: The Power of Yet
This lesson is to introduce the idea of the power of yet. After listening to a book about the power of yet, students can complete a Power of Yet activity.
Key Points:
- When you don’t understand something, it isn’t because you can’t learn it; it’s because you haven’t learned it yet.
- Sometimes when we have a hard time figuring out something in class, it can be frustrating, but all you have to do is call on the Power of Yet.
- The Power of Yet promises us that if we work hard and keep trying, we will get it. We just aren’t there YET.
- It is not about speed; everyone learns at their own pace.
- Believe in yourself!
Lesson 5: Mindset Messages
This lesson is to introduce the idea of rewording fixed mindset thoughts to growth mindset thoughts. After listening to a book, and sorting mindset messages, students can complete a change my mindset activity.
Key Points:
- It’s normal to have some fixed thoughts, but we need to practice our positive thoughts.
- Pay attention to your inner voice and shift your negative messages to more positive ones.
- Changing the words we are saying to ourselves can make a difference in our learning attitude.
- When we are in a fixed mindset, we want to take the easy way out because learning new things can be challenging, and we don’t want to look silly or not smart. So what’s the problem if we give up?
These 5 lessons are essential for starting or reminding students about the importance of having a positive mindset. Youcubed.org and mindsetkit.org have many resources and math tasks to get you started. In addition, you can find ready-to-use versions of these lessons HERE with lesson plans, Google Slides with talking points and growth mindset digital and printable worksheets for students to complete. These lesson plans also contain suggested books and videos to use with students.
More Ideas & Videos on Growth Mindset
In addition to teaching lessons, think of ways you can embed these messages within the classroom.
- TeachingChannel.org (My Favorite No)
- Youcubed.org
- mindsetkit.org
- Mindset in Math video
- A New Pathway Through Your Teaching: The Wonder of Mindset Mathematics
- 5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics
- Hang Posters and Visuals with Growth Mindset Terminology Around the Classroom- Click Here for 6 Growth Mindset Classroom Display Free Posters
Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Check out The Free Ultimate Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys to use in your classroom. You can also sign up to receive other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
Classroom Mindset
The goal of the growth mindset classroom is to develop in each student the love of learning. You have to keep trying to get better and not give up when things are hard. With hard work and perseverance, everyone has the potential to achieve great things.
A growth mindset in mathematics is all about improving and getting better over time. Teaching students how to get a growth mindset puts students on the path to success.
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