Unit 2: Instilling growth mindset on an elementary level
An Overview
Within this unit, we will discuss how to foster a growth mindset with younger students. Much of the research and resources provided for teachers benefit young learners, and this work can provide us the opportunity to foster a love for learning and in turn create life long learners. Here, we will determine how we can instill a growth mindset with age appropriate activities and ideas.
Growth Mindset in Elementary
Growth mindset within the elementary classroom, allows for us to build a foundation that empowers our students to grow as learners. Students are taught to treat their brain as a muscle, that with exercise it will grow. They are told that that are capable of doing anything if they continue to try and put forth effort.
In elementary, we can reroute children's understanding and thoughts on education and learning. Here, we teach children that learning is a continuous process that allows for mistakes, growth, and knowledge.
When tackling students' understanding of growth mindset it is important to be: -Explicit in explanation of what growth mindset is -Provide opportunity for discussion and dialogue -Make personal student connections to difficult concepts
Promoting Growth Mindset
To promote growth mindset with young learners, one must provide students with opportunity to see and analyze growth. With our youngest learners, we must do this in a tangible and realistic way. Below, there are linked exemplar lessons that are utilized to teach growth mindset. Use the questioning below to help you critique and analyze the lessons.
Lesson 1: Kindergarten
Critique
What aspects of this lesson provide students with an opportunity to think about growth mindset? What makes you think this?
What aspect of the lesson do you believe benefits children's understanding of growth mindset the most?
What could be added to benefit student understanding, specifically to the read alouds provided? (be specific)
Lesson 2: Second Grade
Critique
What aspects of this lesson provide students with an opportunity to think about growth mindset? What makes you think this?
What aspect of the lesson do you believe benefits children's understanding of growth mindset the most?
How does the teacher's questioning help students grasp the concept of growth mindset?
Lesson 3: Multi Grades
Critique
How do you believe the video format provided will benefit younger students?
What do you think the lesson needs to help it be more accessible for students?
Lesson 4: Multi Grade
Critique
What aspects of this lesson provide students with an opportunity to think about growth mindset? What makes you think this?
What aspect of the lesson do you believe benefits children's understanding of growth mindset the most?
How does the teacher's questioning help students grasp the concept of growth mindset?
Reflection
Growth mindset is a classroom culture that builds student confidence and capability.
Effective growth mindset lessons usually instill:
1. An ability to effective identify one's weaknesses
2. Focus on the problem instead of the last result
3. Foster the ability to accept criticisms
4. Embrace and reward effort over correctness. There are many more facets to Growth mindset that can be found here.
Reflect on the exemplars we have linked here. Do they have these ideas embedded in the lessons? What do these lessons have in common? How can these lessons better support students' growth mindsets?
Next Steps
Record your reflection on the provided lessons. Use the template found in the Google folder.
Resources
LaRocca, B. (2018, July 19). Sample Classroom Strategies. Retrieved from https://www.transformingeducation.org/sample-classroom-strategies/.
Unit 1: An Overview of growth versus fix mindset
Unit 2: Instilling growth mindset on an elementary level
Unit 3: Instilling growth mindset on the secondary level