Building Growth Mindset in Kindergarten

Challenging classroom games the students have begun learning

As kindergarten students have looked more closely at a study of games, the teachers have noticed some language and conversations that have come up when trying something new. Sometimes students would feel frustrated or discouraged if they could not get it just right or even remember the rules to a new game, saying "it's too hard" or  "I will never get this." As the school year has progressed and new academic skills in literacy and math are also taught, some of the same beliefs and ideas have been occasionally appearing. After careful observation and thoughtful planning, the teachers understood that this was a perfect time to introduce  the concepts of a fixed mindset, a growth mindset, and the power of "yet."

A few growth mindset books

We read some beautiful and powerful picture books, that were the catalysts for some very important conversations about working hard, making mistakes, and  perseverance. We also talked about how the brain needs to grow and stretch and that is what is happening when we are learning. The children laughed about how messy they probably were when they were first learning how to feed themselves, but over time they did learn. We reminded them that talking and walking were hard for all of us at one time too, yet with time and practice, all of us learned those skills. It is just difficult to remember how hard it was and how long it took! After these read-alouds and class discussions, some new favorite classroom quotes are "everything new is hard before it becomes easy" and "work until you are proud."

Teaching a friend to play Connect Four

Throughout the year, we have also encouraged the students to use kind and caring words wth one another and it was important for the students to understand how powerful words can be when they are talking to themselves as well. Roleplaying fixed mindsets and growth mindsets with the children made clearer the understanding that their self talk had to be kind and loving as well. How quickly the students understood that they it was never okay to tell a friend that they would never learn something and they were not smart so it was never okay to say that to oneself either! Practicing using kind and encouraging words to oneself when working through a challenging or new activity has become a bit easier for friends do not hesitate to offer reminders like, "you can do it" or "try it another way." What a joy it has been to hear the children talk about wanting to grow their brains and not keeping them fixed or stuck in one spot.

Trying a new game, Sequence Dice 

One of the most important understandings behind a growth mindset was the power of the word "yet." Too often children become discouraged, saying "I can't do that." How magical and transformative it is if one little word, "yet" is added to the equation and the self talk! The children now have a deeper understanding that everyone's brains and bodies grow and develop in different ways and on different timelines, and that is okay. With hard work, practice, positive self talk, and support along the way, all of our brains can grow and stretch and get smarter. It has been exciting to hear that the kindergarten students are bringing their learning home and reminding the grown ups in their lives that they might think they can not do something and all they need to do is add the word yet!

Check out some of the great students quotes below that express the growing understandings of a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.

Fixed mindset quotes:

• "A fixed mindset is when you think you can't do something."

• "A fixed mindset makes me think I can't do it when really I could eventually, if I just tried."

• "Fixed mindset means I tell myself I can never ever do it!

• "If you have a fixed mindset, you think you are not smart and you can't do something because it is too, too hard...and you think you will never get it."

Growth mindset quotes:

• 'If I have a growth mindset, it means I can do it and I can try."

• "It's stretching your brain by working hard."

• "I can do it! I really like growth mindset for I used to have a fixed mindset and had not learned about it before! I didn't really want to try something before if it was too hard. Now I know I can and I will be able to do it- maybe today. Maybe another day!"

• "You can try new things and practice or try something a new way to get it."

• "You can always ask for help from a teacher, a friend or your grown ups at home."

• "I might not be able to do something right away but I will sometime soon."

• "Practice, practice and practice! That's how you can train your brain and grow smarter."

• "It is okay to make mistakes. If I make a mistake it means I am learning."

• "If it is too easy it means it is time to learn something new!"

• "I can not do it yet!"

Learning a new game, Mancala

First Mancala win!

Here is a link to just a few of the wonderful read alouds for children about growth mindset:
https://www.weareteachers.com/perfect-read-alouds-for-teaching-growth-mindset/
The next time you are at the library or bookstore, be sure to check them out. If you are not familiar with the concepts of fixed and growth mindset, Carol Dweck's book, Mindset, is a great resource for adults.

We would love to know if you have any great "growth mindset" books to share with us. Special visiting readers are always welcome in kindergarten!