Growth Mindset
Believing in a growth mindset helps us learn, adapt, and succeed. Growth mindset is the belief that you can always get smarter or more intelligent by working at your challenges. This also means that if you do fail or make a mistake, you should try again, try a new strategy, or ask for help. For your next three tutoring sessions, take a few minutes to introduce, practice, and understand growth mindset.
Complete all activities in order. Click the “Session” headings below to open each lesson plan.
Reminders for students and tutors:
● Listen with interest.
● Participate.
● Ask open-ended questions.
● Choose the best way for each of you to reflect and show your learning.
Packet Completion Information:
You will find the link to the completion form at the end of Activity #3 – please complete it together when you’ve finished all of the activities on this page. After submitting that form, you are welcome to sign up for another SEL trait if you’d like to try more activities!
Introduce Growth Mindset: Challenges ahead!
Learn about the differences between growth mindset and fixed mindset.
5 min: S.E.L. Check-in activity
Choose one of the options below to watch, reflect on, and discuss.
Video options:
- Animated video: Your Brain is Like a Muscle
- Informational video: Motivational Minute: Growth Mindset Vs. Fixed Mindset
- Stop this video at min 3:23/when the speaker starts talking about his lesson plan.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- What was the biggest challenge you faced today?
- How can we think about these challenges in a new way?
- What can we do differently tomorrow if we face similar challenges?
5 min: Session review & preview
Review the previous session and the School on Wheels Community Padlet.
Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.
Preview the plan for today.
10-15 min: Homework help (as needed)
10-15 min: Academic support
5 min: Break
10-15 min: Fun and Interactive Learning Activity
5 min: S.E.L. Check-out activity
Read & discuss the following quote with your student:
“All things are difficult before they are easy” – Thomas Fuller
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- Do you think this is true?
- What is something that is easy for you now? Do you remember when it was hard for you to do that? (e.g. using the online tutoring platform, writing your name, doing a specific dance or sport, etc.)
- How did it become easy?
- You can also give an example from your own life that your student can relate to.
When something is too hard, you can:
- try again
- try in a different way
- ask someone for help
Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.
Understand Growth Mindset: Making new connections
This week is all about diving into the science of why growth mindset is important… and works!
5 min: S.E.L. Check-in activity
Watch one of these two videos:
Discussion & guiding questions:
Think of an example from your own life of making some new connections in your brain. What were you doing?
How can you “rewire” your brain?
5 min: Session review & preview
Review the previous session and the School on Wheels Community Padlet.
Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.
Preview the plan for today.
10-15 min: Homework help (as needed)
10-15 min: Academic support
5 min: Break
10-15 min: Fun and Interactive Learning Activity
5 min: S.E.L. Check-out activity
When we learn new things, we create connections in our brain between “neurons”. When we practice and get good at those things, the connections become very strong and fast.
- On page 1 of the Making New Connections worksheet, use the space under the neurons to write some skills you’d like to improve by making the connections in your brain stronger.
- In the left column, write your current skill, and in the right column write your goal for that skill. For example, in the left column: reading in English; the right column: reading in Spanish!
- On page 2 of the worksheet use images to help your student begin to visualize what they will accomplish when they strengthen their neurons. Help your student find or draw images representing what they put into the second column on page one.
- Visualization is a useful technique that helps you reach goals and live your dreams. It works by getting your mind and body ready for what you want to happen.
Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.
Practice Growth Mindset
Practice shifting your mindset with the power of “yet”!
5 min: S.E.L. Check-in activity
One way to strengthen neural connections is by having a growth mindset. Using their goals, tell your student they can add the “Power of Yet” to their mindset.
Choose one of the video options below to watch and listen to, reflect on, and discuss.
- The Incredible Power of Yet – Big Ideas – Classdojo
- The power of believing that you can improve
- Start from the beginning of the video and stop at minute 3:13.
- Music video: Janelle Monae sings “Power of Yet” on Sesame Street
Discussion & guiding questions:
Why is the word ”yet” so powerful? Can you make “Power of Yet” statements using some of the items on page 1 of your Making New Connections worksheet? For example: I can’t read in Spanish YET!
5 min: Session review & preview
Review the previous session and the School on Wheels Community Padlet.
Reminder: During your session, take a screenshot of your student’s work to add to the Padlet later. You can also summarize what you worked on if you are not comfortable taking screenshots.
Preview the plan for today.
10-15 min: Homework help (as needed)
10-15 min: Academic support
5 min: Break
10-15 min: Fun and Interactive Learning Activity
5 min: S.E.L. Check-out activity
Complete and discuss the following sentences with your student. Write your sentence on the Big Blue Button whiteboard, on paper, or directly on Padlet.
1. With your student, complete at least one of the sentences below (if your student works quickly, go ahead and complete all 3!). Complete the sentences for yourself as well.
★ Notes: Encourage your student to include at least one skill or lesson that you’ve been working on in your tutoring sessions, and make sure your examples are things you truly want to learn.
- I can’t …
- I’m not good at …
- I don’t understand …
2. Read both of your sentences out loud and add the word “yet” to the end of each.
Discuss: How do you feel right now about this subject/topic/goal? How long do you think you’ll have to work at it until you can do or understand your example? What steps will you take? Have you ever experienced growth after making a mistake?
Share with your student: When you “welcome the tough stuff”, you can handle bigger challenges. Instead of depending on luck or “natural” talent, you work on developing your skills and abilities and learning from your efforts. When something is too hard, you can:
● try again
● try in a different way
● ask someone for help
Submit a screenshot, or if unfamiliar with taking screenshots, you can summarize what you and your student worked on.