L & D Solutions for Educational Institutions

Students with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence and talent are innate traits that don’t change. For example, they might say “I just can’t learn math.” These students typically worry about not looking smart, get upset by mistakes, and give up sooner on tough tasks.

Students with a growth mindset believe that ability can change as a result of effort, perseverance, and practice. You might hear them say, “Math is hard, but if I keep trying, I can get better at it.” Students with a growth mindset see mistakes as ways to learn, embrace challenges, and persist in the face of setbacks. High-performing students and low-performing students may have either mindset.

Studies show students with a growth mindset:

• Are more motivated and engaged, even when work is challenging
• Are more likely to review or revise their work
• Score better on math and verbal standardized tests
• Fail fewer classes and have higher GPAs
• Are more likely to persist in high school and college

This 5-session professional learning cycle supports learning communities in cultivating their skills for implementing growth mindset practices. Each session is 2 hours long and covers one topic from our Growth Mindset topics, plus a recap. You may also want to extend beyond the 5 sessions by adding additional activities or topics.

Session 1: About a Growth Mindset

This session describes what will be covered in the 5 sessions, the overall learning objectives, and the expectations for participants to help co-create an atmosphere of support and collaboration. During the final 30 minutes, you will go through the About Growth Mindset topic and have a group discussion to explore reactions and how the ideas presented relate to each participant's practice.

Session 2: Teaching a Growth Mindset

In this session, your team will review and discuss the curriculum for teaching a growth mindset, create a plan for modifying (if needed) and implementing the curriculum, and create a plan for giving and receiving feedback through peer observations.

Session 3: Praise the Process, Not the Person

In this session, your team will learn about the kind of praise that promotes a growth mindset, see it in action, and have opportunities to practice responding to scenarios.

Session 4: Celebrate Mistakes

In this session, you and your team will explore your own attitudes towards making mistakes, learn how to normalize mistakes from Carol Dweck and Jo Boaler, watch teachers use this practice in action, and explore activity ideas to try in your classroom.

Session 5: Recap and Review

In this final session, your team will have an opportunity to review the material covered in the previous four sessions, discuss what was most helpful and what was most challenging, and explore next steps.