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One of the most significant challenges educators face in the classroom is not, in fact, teaching new concepts (although, that is a challenge in itself). rather, their students' belief in their ability to learn new concepts. Students' mindsets can play a big role in how they approach learning, and one of the biggest lessons educators can teach their students is to cultivate a growth mindset.
The concept of a growth mindset is well known in education circles, thanks in large part to the work of Carol Dweck. It is defined as the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication and the right techniques. Encouraging students to develop a growth mindset can ultimately help them persevere, learn from their mistakes, and strive for progress.
So, how can educators help students believe they can achieve? Here are 5 ideas for growth mindset activities that educators can implement in their lessons to teach students about resilience, resilience, and adaptability.
5 ideas for teaching about a growth mindset
Check out these engaging and impactful ideas to help students develop and nurture a growth mindset.
1. Help students reframe their thinking
The “still power” principle encourages students to see their power as a work in progress rather than set in stone. During class, help students identify the limiting thoughts of a fixed mindset and practice reframing those thoughts to reflect a growth mindset. For example, when a student says, “I'm not good at math,” a teacher can reframe it by saying, “You're still not good at it, but you can improve with practice.” Practicing reframing is an effective way to help students realize that even if they haven't achieved something yet, they can with time and effort.
Yet the power of demonstration Classroom Poster | Growth Mindset Bulletin Board
Miss McRae's Teaching Tales by – Becca McRae
Grade: Any
Growth Mindset, Metacognition Strategies, and Power of Age Bundle for Middle School
Buy Diversity in Mind with Abena
Grades: 5-10
Growth vs. Fixed Mindset Situation | Growth Mindset Situation Card | the scenario
By Queen's Educational Resources
Grades: 5-12
2. Normalize failure as part of the learning process
Students should feel safe to take intellectual risks without fear of judgment or embarrassment. To foster such an environment, educators can help students see mistakes as part of the learning journey and as opportunities for growth, rather than shame. One way to do this is to center a lesson around people who have been resilient and overcome failure, to provide real-life examples of what can be achieved in the face of adversity.
Growth Mindset Lessons – Famous Failures
By Strict Resources by Lisa
Grades: 4-12
Growth Mindset Famous Failures – Inventive Reading Activityy
By the small but mighty teacher
Grades: 4-12
3. Encourage resilience through writing
Journaling can be an excellent tool for fostering a growth mindset in students for many reasons. Mainly, it encourages students to actively process their experiences, helps students track their progress, and reinforces the idea that learning and personal growth are ongoing processes. For example, teachers can have students do a daily or weekly reflection, answering prompts such as: “How have I improved where I previously struggled?” or “Did I make a mistake that helped me learn something new?” or “How did my efforts contribute to my achievement?”
Growth Mindset Journal Mindfulness activities SEL worksheet
By design education
Grades: 3-5
Math Growth Mindset | Interactive 5 day unit | Student Journal No preparation son
by Get Techy Wit' It
Grades: 3-8
Growth Mindset Bell Ringer Journal for the Whole Year: Back to School (Editable)
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Grades: 6-12
4. Teach students how to give and receive constructive feedback
Feedback plays an important role in developing a growth mindset, as it helps students focus their efforts on exactly what they need to work on in order to improve and take proactive steps towards growth. By practicing how to give and receive good feedback, students learn that criticism is an opportunity for improvement, not a reflection of their inherent abilities.
Accept feedback Growth Mindset Series 6 by Eve Coates
By Eve Coates
Grades: 1-4
5. Set learning goals, not just performance goals
By setting learning goals, educators can encourage students to focus on acquiring new skills — rather than just getting good grades. Ultimately, goal-setting activities can help students become resilient individuals with the tenacity and perseverance to pursue and achieve their goals. Check out these two blog posts to find everything you need to teach students this skill:
Want more ideas for lessons or classroom activities to promote a growth mindset? Plenty available on TPT.