Growth mindset for kids has been buzzing like a swarm of bees across the education field in the last couple of years. If you are familiar with this area or have training in it, you already understand its potential to change students’ lives. For those of you who need a refresher or are new to the growth mindset for kids, I’ve thrown together 10 things you need to know. Much of this information comes from Mindsets in the Classroom by Mary Cay Ricci and The Growth Mindset Coach by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley, and online research. Once you begin to grasp the potential power of a growth mindset in the classroom, this information will reign supreme.
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Students who exhibit a growth mindset believe that, despite obstacles and challenges, a person can develop abilities and achieve goals through motivation, hard work, and practice. On the flip side, a fixed mindset is the belief that talent and intelligence can’t be changed, even with dedication and hard work. Thanks to Dr. Carol Dweck, who published Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, we are better able to understand mindset concepts.
As I mentioned in this post, research indicates that children feel less and less capable of achieving success as they get older. In fact, by the time students reach third grade, nearly half of them don’t believe that their brains and intelligence can grow or change. They believe their intelligence is fixed, regardless of their efforts to change it. This is in stark contrast to the 10% of first-grade students who believe their intelligence is fixed. In two short years, nearly 40% of all students lose faith in their own abilities. This is enough of an argument to make growth mindset concepts an integral part of every classroom!
Most teachers were trained to believe the “bell curve” mentality as it relates to intelligence. When teachers accept this assumption, they automatically categorize students as more capable or less capable than their peers. Do you have a list of low-, middle-, and high-performing students in your class? Do you believe that all of your students can succeed? It takes work, training, persistence, and perseverance, but the answer is a resounding YES! Research shows us that lowering standards for “low” students is detrimental to their future success (and their mindset). Educating your students about growth-mindset concepts for kids is absolutely transformative for their perceived self-worth, intelligence, and capabilities. It also happens to blow this bell curve to the curb!
Do YOU believe that YOU can achieve anything through hard work and dedication? What is the most difficult course you took in college? Could you be a professor in that subject area? I’ll be honest. I struggle with this myself. Though I can confidently say I wholeheartedly believe in growth-mindset concepts, I am petrified to face challenges that “aren’t my thing”. Can you relate?
Even though I’ve never believed I could possibly understand HTML codes, I could, ahem, well, I could (maybe)…. okay, I COULD be an expert in HTML coding. Merely typing those words (though my body shuddered) shifted my mindset a little bit. Maybe if I say it over and over again, I will actually start to believe it. The point is that as teachers, we must reflect on our perception of our OWN abilities.
No, really, it’s true. The physical structure of the brain and its neural connections can actually BE CHANGED as a result of experiences, new learning, and memory formation! This isn’t some foo-foo statement that growth mindset proponents want you to believe; it’s a FACT! The ability of your brain to grow and change is called neuroplasticity.
Neuro refers to neurons, or nerve cells, which are the building blocks of the brain. Plasticity refers to the malleability of those nerve cells. Research even reveals that when the brain is damaged, healthy parts can take over the functions of the damaged area. With effort and dedication, everyone can rewire and strengthen neural connections in their brain! ((YELP!)) Isn’t that exciting? I think so too!
Every human needs this reminder periodically. I mean, the next time I send the exact same email to my followers TWICE (#faint), I might need someone to pull me from the abyss of despair and remind me that mistakes are fantastic. So, why are mistakes good for the brain? It has to do with strengthening the connections en route to the correct answer. Each mistake brings us a bit closer to success. Our brain also creates categories for what works and what doesn’t work. Often, these categories and this learning can be applied to a wide range of situations and tasks.
Do you see how immediate success doesn’t have as deep of an impact on the brain as mistakes do? Let’s embrace them and train our students to see all the benefits of screwing up.
Students who are optimistic about their ability to complete a task will often choose tasks that require more effort. Research on the use of affirmations and self-talk shows positive effects on self-esteem and increased grades among low-performing students. If you want to combine growth-mindset concepts for kids with the effects of positive affirmations, this affirmation poster set may interest you.
Research shows that even with 45 minutes of growth mindset training, students showed improved engagement, resulting in higher grades. Another study found that girls who received growth mindset training outperformed those who did not in math. Are you convinced yet? I promise it’s true. A student who is taught that every single solitary person has the ability to achieve in every single solitary area of life achieves at a higher rate!
Merely telling your students that a growth mindset works for kids is NOT enough. Give them proof. Read books. Teach them about the parts of the brain and the functions of each. How is the brain like a muscle? What specifically happens in the brain to make it stretch and grow? Arming students with direct, specific information about how the brain works is an essential part of growth mindset instruction. Accurate information about the brain builds the foundation for their belief in a growth mindset.
I recommend beginning (or reviewing) with Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak because it covers specific brain information in child-friendly language. Unlike many picture books, I think it is appropriate for any elementary grade. If you’d like, I’ve created activities to accompany the book for lower grades, as well as for upper grades. Students can also find useful, easy-to-understand, and informative brain and growth mindset information in these growth mindset bell ringers that can be used for an entire year!
Let me say that one more time. YOUR expectations have a HUGE impact on student achievement! In addition to your nonverbal communication, pay attention to the types of praise you use. Be sure it is effort-oriented and not outcome-oriented (check out this post about using effective praise for more specific examples). Utilize YET feedback. “It’s not correct… YET.” “You don’t understand this concept… YET.”
Other ways to level the playing field include calling on all students equally (use random name generators), and showing genuine interest in the lives of ALL your students. Do you give students opportunities to resubmit work? Do you provide clear, explicit instructions on how students can improve? Most teachers try to do these things regularly, but it never hurts to reevaluate your expectations and interactions with students to help them develop a growth mindset.
If you haven’t covered them all, it’s okay, it just means you haven’t covered them all… YET! Do you need additional resources for teaching your students about a growth mindset? Check here.
Skedaddle now… head into your classroom and show your students what they’re made of! Arm them with the tools they need to conquer their fears and persevere in the face of life’s challenges. The future depends on it!
Before you go, grab some FREE Growth Mindset Bell Ringers for 2nd-3rd Grade or FREE Growth Mindset Bell Ringers for 4th Grade and Up.
I am Kirsten Tulsian, an elementary educator with 18 years of experience as a teacher and counselor. My passion lies in empowering students to discover their inherent brilliance through the use of engaging, rigorous, and meaningful activities. I look forward to connecting with you!
