Jamey Lovin, Plaza Middle School Math Coach

Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Yes, children love praise!

“I shouldn’t try drawing anything

hard or they’ll see I’m no Picasso.”

We hear these as supportive,

esteem-boosting messages.

“You learned that so

quickly! You’re so smart!”

What they hear.

“If I don’t learn something

quickly, I’m not smart.”

“Look at that drawing. Is he the

next Picasso or what?”

“I’d better quit studying or

they won’t think I’m brilliant.”

What is the intended reach of your professional development?

Are your School Practices, Policies, Procedures, and Protocols

Growth Mindset Friendly?

Administrators Reflection and Planning for a

Growth Mindset Culture

“Look Fors” in a Growth Mindset Learning Environment

Educators’ Growth Mindset Sentence Samples

General mindset interventions can be helpful for shifting

students’ mindsets, but if students return to mathematics

classrooms working in the same ways they always have, that

growth mindset about math slowly erodes away.

- Jo Boaler

Sketch your brain. What does it look like?

How does it work?

Is it a sponge? Is it a muscle?

How do we learn things?

Thinking about goals and objectives . . . .

How do you excite those reluctant learners?

Teach broad, visual, and creative math – Jo Boaler

Allowance / Investing / Cooking / Building

Skateboards/Batting Averages/Football

Snowflakes/Architecture

Computer Gaming/Coding

Music

Science (Water Molecules/Dolphins/Spreading Germs)

Safe Environment

(Class Norms, Math Talks, Mental Math, Error Analysis)

Asking Questions

(Encourage them, Model them)

Live on the edge of competence

(Differentiation, Learning Progressions)

Choose difficult tasks

(Choice Boards, Menus, RAFTs, Option Assignments)

Open-ended tasks that promote problem solving,

multiple representations, and are cognitively demanding

“Five Practices” help teach managementAnticipating, Monitoring Selecting, Sequencing, Connecting

Math is a growth subject, it takes time to learn and it is

all about the effort!

Power of productive struggle – how do we capture it?

Don’t forget those tasks !!

Power of mistakes and BOUNCING BACK

(many books and videos in references)

Grit (see references)

It’s how you handle a mistake that makes it worthwhile!

Mindsets: The New Pyschology of Success by Carol Dweck https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Success-Carol-

Dweck/dp/0345472322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474970392&sr=8-1&keywords=mindset

Mindsets in the Classroom by Mary Cay Ricci https://www.amazon.com/Mindsets-Classroom-Building-Culture-

Achievement/dp/1618210815/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474970767&sr=8-1&keywords=mindsets+in+the+classroom

Ready to Use Resources for Mindsets in the Classroom by Mary Cay Ricci https://www.amazon.com/Ready---Use-Resources-Mindsets-Classroom/dp/1618213962/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474970850&sr=8-2&keywords=mindsets+in+the+classroom

Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler https://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Mindsets-Unleashing-Potential-

Innovative/dp/0470894520/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474970492&sr=8-1&keywords=mathematics+mindset

The Growth Mindset Coach by Annie Brock https://www.amazon.com/Growth-Mindset-Coach-Month---

Month/dp/1612436013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474970538&sr=8-1&keywords=mindset+coach

Fish Philosophy https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Proven-Morale-Improve-

Results/dp/0786866020/ref=zg_bs_3049091_1

Michael Jordan and Perseverance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbzEiAj02ks

Michael Phelps and Perseverance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh9jAD1ofm4

Bruno Mars and Don’t Give Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0uSn9zXlTw

Power of Yet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLeUvZvuvAs

Famous Failures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLYECIjmnQs

25 Accidents That Changed the World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf_Qv3q0M_c

These are a good start but there are several more mentioned in the

Mindset in the Classrooms Book (references 29 and 47)

My Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Elastic-Brain-Stretch-

Shape/dp/0982993803/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475409010&sr=8-1&keywords=fantastic+elastic+brain

Only One You by Linda Kranz https://www.amazon.com/Only-One-You-Linda-

Kranz/dp/0873589017/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409089&sr=1-1&keywords=only+one+you

Oh, the Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss

https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/3022/ref=sr_bs_1_3022_1

Ish by Peter Reynolds https://www.amazon.com/Ish-Creatrilogy-Peter-H-

Reynolds/dp/076362344X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475409811&sr=8-1&keywords=ish

The Dot by Peter Reynolds https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/3096/ref=sr_bs_4_3096_1

The Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Oops-Barney-

Saltzberg/dp/076115728X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409306&sr=1-

1&keywords=the+beautiful+oops

Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull https://www.amazon.com/Wilma-Unlimited-Rudolph-Became-

Fastest/dp/0152020985/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409354&sr=1-1&keywords=wilma+unlimited

The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper https://www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-Could-Original-

Classic/dp/0448405202/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409411&sr=1-

1&keywords=the+little+engine+that+could

Mistakes that Worked by Charlotte Faltz Jones https://www.amazon.com/Mistakes-That-Worked-Familiar-

Inventions/dp/0385320434/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409454&sr=1-

1&keywords=mistakes+that+worked

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Never-

Made-Mistakes/dp/1402255446/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409501&sr=1-

1&keywords=the+girl+who+never+made+mistakes

The Most Magnificient Thing by Ashley Spires https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12?url=search-

alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+most+magnificent+thing&sprefix=the+most+mag%2Cstripbooks%2C156

These are the ones I own but there are several more mentioned in the

Mindset in the Classrooms Book (reference 48)

Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull https://www.amazon.com/Wilma-Unlimited-Rudolph-Became-

Fastest/dp/0152020985/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409354&sr=1-1&keywords=wilma+unlimited

The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper https://www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-Could-Original-

Classic/dp/0448405202/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409411&sr=1-

1&keywords=the+little+engine+that+could

Mistakes that Worked by Charlotte Faltz Jones https://www.amazon.com/Mistakes-That-Worked-Familiar-

Inventions/dp/0385320434/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409454&sr=1-

1&keywords=mistakes+that+worked

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Never-

Made-Mistakes/dp/1402255446/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475409501&sr=1-

1&keywords=the+girl+who+never+made+mistakes

The Most Magnificient Thing by Ashley Spires https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12?url=search-

alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+most+magnificent+thing&sprefix=the+most+mag%2Cstripbooks%2C156

These are the ones I own but there are several more mentioned in the

Mindset in the Classrooms Book (reference 48)

Content Focused Coaching by Lucy West https://www.amazon.com/Content-Focused-Coaching-Transforming-

Mathematics-Lessons/dp/0325004625/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475489927&sr=8-

1&keywords=content+focused+coaching

Agents of Change by Lucy West https://www.amazon.com/Agents-Change-Coaching-Transforms-

Teaching/dp/0325013837/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490000&sr=8-1&keywords=agents+of+change

A Guide to Mathematics Coaching by Hull, Balka, Ruth Harbin Miles https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Mathematics-

Coaching-Increasing-Achievement/dp/1412972647/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490059&sr=8-

1&keywords=a+guide+to+mathematics+coaching

Taking the Lead by Killion https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Lead-Teachers-School-based-

Coaches/dp/B001E9B0OG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490296&sr=8-2&keywords=taking+the+lead

Instructional Coaching by Jim Knight https://www.amazon.com/Instructional-Coaching-Partnership-Improving-

Instruction/dp/1412927242/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490456&sr=8-1&keywords=instructional+coaching

Differentiated Coaching by Jane Kise https://www.amazon.com/Differentiated-Coaching-Framework-Helping-

Teachers/dp/1412916437/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490507&sr=8-1&keywords=differentiated+coaching

Principles to Action https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Actions-Ensuring-Mathematical-

Success/dp/0873537742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490736&sr=8-

1&keywords=principles+to+actions+ensuring+mathematical+success+for+all

Five Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions https://www.amazon.com/Practices-Orchestrating-

Productive-Mathematics-Discussions/dp/0873536770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475491422&sr=8-

1&keywords=five+practices+for+orchestrating+productive+mathematics+discussions

Teaching Student Centered Mathematics https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Student-Centered-Mathematics-

Developmentally-Appropriate/dp/0132824868/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475491499&sr=8-

3&keywords=teaching+student+centered+mathematics

Making Sense: Teaching and Learning Mathematics with Understanding https://www.amazon.com/Making-Sense-Teaching-

Mathematics-Understanding/dp/0435071327/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490824&sr=8-

1&keywords=making+sense+teaching+and+learning+mathematics+with+understanding

Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Mathematics-Meaningfully-Solutions-

Struggling/dp/1557668663/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490922&sr=8-1&keywords=teaching+mathematics+meaningfully

Good Questions for Math Teaching (K-6) https://www.amazon.com/Good-Questions-Math-Teaching-

Them/dp/0941355519/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475491177&sr=1-

1&keywords=good+questions+for+math+teaching

Good Questions for Math Teaching (5-8) https://www.amazon.com/Good-Questions-Math-Teaching-

Grades/dp/0941355691/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475490994&sr=8-2&keywords=good+questions+for+math+teaching

Good Questions Great Ways to Differentiated Mathematics Instruction https://www.amazon.com/Good-Questions-

Differentiate-Mathematics-

Instruction/dp/0807753130/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6FE7B9CXN1HEK1KX95Q9

More Good Questions Great Ways to Differentiate Mathematics Instruction https://www.amazon.com/More-Good-

Questions-Differentiate-

Mathematics/dp/0807750883/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PK33N5D9NQ82DDDPMRMC

Making Thinking Visible https://www.amazon.com/Making-Thinking-Visible-Understanding-

Independence/dp/047091551X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475491254&sr=1-1&keywords=making+thinking+visible

Perspectives on Teaching and Learning Mathematics https://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Teaching-Mathematics-Sixty-

Sixth-Yearbook/dp/0873535588/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1475491341&sr=1-

1&keywords=Perspectives+on+the+Teaching+of+Mathematics

Many thanks to my colleague Amy Moore, Gifted and Talent Resource

Teacher at Plaza Middle School for allowing me to start with her Growth

Mindset powerpoint and make it my own.

It’s is so wonderful not to have to reinvent the wheel.

Please feel free to do the same!