Creating a growth mindset culture can feel really cheesy. Especially when you teach high school. I found myself flat avoiding growth mindset literature for this reason. And, as far as I’m concerned, that’s not how it should be done. When something isn’t carried out properly, but it has good bones, you fix how it is carried out. Over the years I gathered up a few techniques for creating a growth mindset classroom culture without sounding like a broken record.
The results of my growth mindset classroom has been immeasurable. I can’t say that it has changed my students for life. But what I can say is that by the end of the school year my students have so much confidence in themselves. I teach chemistry. And chemistry is TOUGH – trust me, I know! I let my students know from the jump, “this is going to be the hardest class you take this year.” And while many of them don’t believe me during my first day of school speech, they agree with me come November. And usually it’s because they don’t come to my classroom with a growth mindset. They join me with a fixed mindset. And my 10 tips listed below help to evolve them into kids who believe in themselves and what they are capable of.
Creating a Growth Mindset Culture
- Allow test retakes – unlimited or with some guidelines
- Allow assignment redos – unlimited or with some guidelines
- Make homework optional – allow students to choose whether or not to do homework
- Provide extra credit opportunities
- Provide a variety of activities for your students
- Speak affirmations to and with your students
- Read Growth Mindset picture books – this can help to sneak in the message
- Be specific in your word choice as a teacher
- Connect content to real life
- Have students track their own data (especially if you allow retakes)
Related Episodes: Changing Strategies Mid Year
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