The Happy Learning Den: September 2016

Hallway Bulletin Board: Change Your Words, Change Your Mindset

Over my years of teaching, I have come across several students who firmly believed that they were stupid if they made mistakes, that they were not good enough when faced with a challenge, and/ or that they would never understand so why try. Of course I spoke with students, referred many to our guidance counselor and had parent conferences. But year after year, there was always one student who had a fixed mindset. I never new how to fight back against those negative beliefs or mindsets until this past summer. I was so excited to learn about how teaching a growth mindset can positively impact a student's academic performance and desire to learn that I spent the summer reading about fixed vs. growth mindset. Based on what I read, I created posters and activities to use with my students this year. If you are interested, this is a direct link to that product.

I decided to not only teach Fixed vs. Growth Mindset this year, but to also use Brag Tags. I purchased and downloaded many freebies and have been using both with fidelity since the first day of school- 2 weeks ago. My students LOVE it! I put all the brag tag necklaces on one bulletin board with the posters I created above them, to look like a banner. The bulletin board is in the front of the room. This way every time they line up or put a brag tag on their necklace they are reading posters such as:
1.) Mistakes are proof that you are trying. Never Give Up!
2.) I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~Albert Einstein
3.) I will persist until I succeed. Keep trying.

The first thing I taught students was that their brain is always growing and that challenges are actually good for them. I asked students if they have any baby brothers or sisters. (Many raised their hands.) I asked if their baby brothers and sisters were born knowing how to walk. Then we had a conversation about how it is difficult for a baby to learn to walk. They told stories about siblings falling over and over and laughing each time they fell, but they always got up. We discussed that this was challenging for their baby brothers and sisters, but with practice they got better... and how their brain goes through growth every time they learn something new.

I asked students to tell about a time they were learning something new. Something that they really wanted to learn, but was frustrating for them. The key to this, not only did I want them to share something that used to be challenging for them to learn... but that now they felt that they were experts at it. Once all students who wanted to shared, we talked about what they all had in common. I led them to discuss that they practiced and practiced and practiced some more. That they didn't give up. Their mindset allowed them to learn ride a bike, learn to skateboard, to learn to dance, etc. That this is called a growth mindset, and I told them that they were going to learn the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset this year.

They next day to review we played a quick game. I said a statement that was either a fixed or growth mindset. If it was a fixed mindset, students folded their arms across their chests. If it was a growth mindset, students were to raise both hands in the air. I used statements such as:
1.) I'm just not good at math. (fixed)
2.) I'll never get good at this. (fixed)
3.) I'll get better at this if I keep trying. (growth)
4.) This is good enough. (fixed)
5.) I am going to make this super-duper! (growth)

We played this game for about two minutes, and then I passed out a cut and paste activity that I created with four growth mindsets and six fixed mindsets. Students were given two options. They could work with a partner or work by themselves. Of course, they all chose to work with a partner. But I still wanted to give the option just in case.

Over these first 2 weeks of school I have been teaching my rules, procedures, how to earn brag tags, and practicing using a growth mindset vs giving up (fixed mindset). What I didn't anticipate was how effective it was going to be right away. I have never had so many students try every single problem on the math prerequisite test and beginning of the year math test. As I walked around the room, students were erasing and starting over and over and over. Two students told me when they did turn in their tests that they felt their brains growing during the test! I promise I only smiled! :-)

I had my students create two mindset cellphone selfies. The first one shows each student's drawing of themselves and a speech bubble above their cellphone selfie "saying" something they used to say that is fixed. The one to the right is of a cellphone selfie drawing and a speech bubble "saying" their new thought (growth mindset). It came out better than I dreamed.

I am one happy teacher!
Happy Teaching!
Happy Learning!
Sandra @The Happy Learning Den

Below you will see some closeups of student work. Enjoy! Please feel free to share in the comments section below how you teach fixed vs. growth mindset to your students.