Students with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence and talents are inherent and unchangeable. For instance, they might say, "I'm just not good at math." These students often worry about appearing less capable, become discouraged by mistakes, and tend to give up more quickly when faced with difficult tasks.
In contrast, students with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can improve through effort, perseverance, and consistent practice. You might hear them say, "Math is challenging, but if I keep working at it, I'll get better." These students view mistakes as opportunities to learn, embrace challenges, and persist even when encountering setbacks. Importantly, both high-performing and low-performing students can hold either mindset.
Research shows that students with a growth mindset:
- Are more motivated and engaged, even when faced with challenging work.
- Are more likely to review, revise, and improve their work.
- Achieve higher scores on math and verbal standardized tests.
- Fail fewer classes and maintain higher GPAs.
- Are more likely to persist through high school and college.
[Download the Growth Mindset Toolkit]
Encouraging Growth Mindset in the Classroom
Many educators are already integrating growth mindset principles into their classrooms, helping students shift their perspectives and approach challenges with a positive, resilient attitude. By being intentional about the strategies we use with students, we can significantly impact their long-term success.
Meet Teri:Teri, an educator dedicated to fostering a growth mindset, has seen remarkable changes in her students' attitudes and achievements. By emphasizing the importance of effort, resilience, and learning from mistakes, Teri empowers her students to take ownership of their learning journey.
Learn About the Power of Praise:At Transforming Education for People, we believe that educators should have access to a variety of practical, easy-to-use strategies that are effective in the classroom. One of the most impactful strategies is the power of praise—using specific, positive feedback to encourage effort and persistence rather than focusing solely on innate talent.
Why Download the Free Growth Mindset Toolkit?
The Growth Mindset Toolkit is a comprehensive professional development resource—what we like to call "PD-in-a-Box." It’s designed to ensure educators have a positive, engaging experience while deepening their understanding of growth mindset concepts. We’ve rigorously tested this toolkit to make it as useful as possible, and we welcome your feedback to help us refine it further. The toolkit includes:
- Facilitator's Guide with Sample Agendas: A detailed guide to help you structure the session and make the most of the materials provided.
- Slide Presentation: A complete presentation to guide you through the session, ensuring a smooth and informative experience.
- Growth Mindset Animation: An engaging animation that illustrates the critical role growth mindset plays over the long term, how it can be taught, and the mindset needed to teach it effectively.
- Video Interviews: Real-life stories from students who experienced dramatic improvements after learning specific growth mindset strategies in school.
- Practical Strategies: A set of immediately actionable strategies and examples that teachers can implement in their classrooms right away.
- Reflection Activities and Planning Exercise: Thoughtful activities to help educators reflect on their learning and plan how to apply growth mindset strategies in their teaching practice.
- Take-Home Handout: A handy reference with key session content, additional examples for implementation, and tips that educators can use as they integrate growth mindset into their teaching.