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LEARNING MINDSETS SESSIONS

1An Introduction to the Mindsets Behind Academic Success

2 Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

3 Sense of Belonging: Creating Safe Learning Environments

4Value for Learning: Finding Meaning and Purpose at School

5Designing Learning Environments that Cultivate Positive Mindsets

Session Overview time: 65 min

Reflection and Connection: 20 min Take a short online survey to self-assess participants’ own mindsets

Research and Inspiration: 15 min Explore research on ways that growth versus fixed mindsets influence student learning

Interactive Application: 25 min Practice applying strategies to build growth mindset through simple messaging to students

Next Steps: 5 min Decide on path forward

Learning Objectives: › Understand the difference between

a growth mindset and a fixed mindset

› Explore practical ways to support students to cultivate a growth mindset

Students who have failed repeatedly may be likely to form a belief that mistakes or extra effort are signs that they are not smart and never will be, a frame of mind called a fixed mindset. In contrast, when students have a growth mindset, they believe that their intelligence is malleable, something that they can increase through struggle. These mindsets play an important role in students’ academic success. Students who believe their intelligence grows with effort tend to take on more risks and persist in the face of failure. In this session, participants will explore the difference between a growth and a fixed mindset and learn how the language and messages educators use can help students foster a growth mindset.

Facilitator GuideGrowth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

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LEARNINg MINDSETS SESSIoN 2: gRowTh MINDSET: PERSISTINg IN ThE FACE oF ChALLENgESFACILITATOR GUIDE

Ķ Download materials for this session at https://eskolta.org/learningcenter/sessions/growth-mindset-persisting-in-the-face-of-challenges/ à For tips on facilitation, visit the School Improvement Methods section of our site at https://eskolta.org/learningcenter/

Steps Materials

Prep

› Based on access to Wi-Fi, laptops, and email, decide whether you will invite participants to take the PERTS Mindset Survey in Step 1 online or print out the questions from the website to discuss as a group instead.

à Project for Education Research that Scales (PERTS) Growth Mindset Survey

› Based on your audio/visual set-up, decide whether you will have participants view David Yeager: A Few Words on Growth Mindset (4.5 minutes) or print hard copies of the article Mindsets and Equitable Education by Carol Dweck for Step 3

à David Yeager: A Few Words on Growth Mindset or

Ķ Mindsets and Equitable Education by Carol Dweck

› Decide on how you will form groups for the Transforming Fixed to Growth activity in Steps 5 and 6: by department or grade-level team, random, or self-choice

Full Session 65 MIN Ķ Slides Ķ Participant Note Catcher

20 min

1Take an individualized survey to test participants’ own mindsets and become familiar with facets of the growth mindset

à Project for Education Research that Scales (PERTS) Growth Mindset Survey

2 Reflect on individual takeaways and surprises from the results of the quiz

15 min

3 Learn about research on growth mindset

à David Yeager: A Few Words on Growth Mindset or

Ķ Mindsets and Equitable Education by Carol Dweck

EXTENSIoN à Carol Dweck’s Ted Talk video (10 min)

4 Connect research findings on growth mindset to students’ academic success

25 min

5 Analyze growth mindset oriented feedback and framing prompts to use with students

Ķ Growth Mindset Framing Prompts à Growth Mindset Feedback (Mindset

Works)

6 Practice transforming fixed mindset phrases to growth mindset phrases to use with students

Ķ Transforming Fixed to Growth Protocol Ķ Transforming Fixed to Growth Facilitator

Cheat Sheet

5 min

7 Complete exit ticket Ķ Exit Ticket

8 Decide on path forward

Follow-Up

› Review participants’ exit tickets and provide additional resources and support

› Determine next steps for professional learning, such as proceeding to the next session in this series

à If appropriate: Learning Mindsets Session 4: Value for Learning: Finding Meaning and Purpose at School

LEARNINg MINDSETS SESSIoN 2: gRowTh MINDSET: PERSISTINg IN ThE FACE oF ChALLENgES FACILITATOR GUIDE

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Reflection and Connection | 20 min

The opening activity invites participants to take a short survey gauging fixed versus growth mindset to reflect on the elements that make up a growth mindset.

1. Take Growth Mindset Survey | 10 min

In this activity, participants take a short survey that asks questions about their opinions when it comes to intelligence and learning.

FACILITAToR: Prompt participants to take the short Mindset Survey developed by PERTS. Participants can sign up to access the survey via online links received through their email. Explain that these survey questions gauge one’s opinions about intelligence and learning. It will only be seen by them. Ask them to answer as honestly and accurately as possible.

PARTICIPANTS: Take the PERTS Growth Mindset Survey by signing up through your email. You will receive two links—one for the survey and one for the results--via email.

Reiterate to participants that this is a free tool that can be used with students as well. If participants are hesitant to sign up via email, you can print out a hard copy of the questions from the website and discuss them as a group.

2. Discuss Insights from Survey | 10 min

As participants reflect on what they found both surprising and expected from the survey, use this as an opportunity to introduce the various aspects of a growth mindset.

FACILITAToR: Read aloud the difference between a fixed and growth mindset. Then facilitate a brief discussion inviting participants to share their reflections and interpretations of the questions.

PARTICIPANTS: Look at your email for your mindset results or score the handout. Which of the questions in the survey surprised you? What questions about growth versus fixed mindset emerged for you?

Encourage participants to think about this survey as a cross-section of their thinking in one moment in time. Science tells us that beliefs are malleable, so survey answers are likely to change over time. This survey today represents just one sliver of their thinking on this day.

Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

Take Growth Mindset Survey

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Go to https://survey.perts.net/share/toi, send yourself the link, and answer the survey questions.

This is NOT a test! It is an opinion survey asking you for your thoughts and opinions about learning and intelligence.

There are no right or wrong answers—different people have different ideas about all of these things.

Your answers will be emailed to you immediately after taking the survey, but not shared with anyone else.

Please answer as honestly and accurately as possible.

Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

Discuss Insights from Survey:Look at your email for your mindset results or score the handout. ▪ Which of the questions in the

survey surprised you? ▪ What questions about growth

versus fixed mindset emerged for you?

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Materials: Distribute

link to PERTS Growth

Mindset Survey

LEARNINg MINDSETS SESSIoN 2: gRowTh MINDSET: PERSISTINg IN ThE FACE oF ChALLENgES FACILITATOR GUIDE

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Research and Inspiration | 15 min

Participants explore research demonstrating that a student’s mindset has a powerful impact on their learning process.

3. Introduce Research | 7 min

In this activity, participants are introduced to an overview of the distinction between a growth versus fixed mindset and some of the research demonstrating its impact on student learning.

FACILITAToR: Play David Yeager: A Few Words on Growth Mindset or distribute Mindsets and Equitable Education by Carol Dweck. Ask participants to take notes in their Participant Note Catcher on ideas that resonate with them and questions that surface for them.

PARTICIPANTS: As you think about the research behind this concept, note ideas that resonate and questions that surface for you.

Participants may have prior knowledge of growth mindset. If time permits, consider asking them to share what they already know and returning to these ideas at the end to reflect on how their thinking changed.

4. Discuss Impact | 8 min

Providing an opportunity for discussion allows participants to process their reflections, unearth connections to their own learning experiences, and engage in collaborative inquiry with colleagues.

FACILITAToR: Showing the slide with the definitions of growth and fixed mindset, invite participants to explore connections between research on growth mindset and student success.

PARTICIPANTS: What is one thing that you found new or surprising? What is one thing that resonated with your own practice in your classroom? What impact might a mindset shift have for your own students?

Participants may reflect on the impact of their own classroom practices on student mindsets. Invite them to make their thinking visible about how their understanding is shifting.

Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

Research on Growth Mindset:

As you think about the research behind this concept, note ideas that resonate and questions that surface for you.

Dr. David Yeager

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Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

Discuss Impact:▪ What is one thing that you found

new or surprising?▪ What is one thing that resonated

with your own practice in your classroom?

▪ What impact might a mindset shift have for your own students?

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Materials: Distribute

Participant Note Catcher

and David Yeager: A

Few Words on Growth

Mindset or Mindsets and

Equitable Education by Carol Dweck

Extension | 20 minWatch and discuss Carol Dweck’s TED Talk video (10 min) on growth mindset. Ask participants to reflect on their takeaways after watching. What is one thing you want to know more about? What is one thing you heard that you would like to try out in your classroom next week?

LEARNINg MINDSETS SESSIoN 2: gRowTh MINDSET: PERSISTINg IN ThE FACE oF ChALLENgES FACILITATOR GUIDE

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Interactive Application | 25 min

Participants practice by considering how language that teachers and students commonly use can cultivate or suggest fixed and growth mindsets.

5. Analyze Feedback Prompts | 10 min

This activity allows participants to apply their conceptual understandings of mindsets to common situations and daily interactions at school.

FACILITAToR: Distribute the Growth Mindset Framing Prompts and Growth Mindset Feedback (Mindset Works) handouts. Ask participants to read through and annotate the prompts, which are commonly used phrases that can cultivate a growth mindset.

PARTICIPANTS: Read through the sample Growth Mindset Framing Prompts and Growth Mindset Feedback (Mindset Works). Check phrases you have used before, star phrases you have used a lot, and circle phrases you would like to use more. Share what you circled with a partner.

Fixed mindset is embedded in our culture, especially when we grow up hearing that some people are smart or have innate talents for somethings over others. Challenge participants to practice thinking about how so many common, everyday phrases encourage a fixed mindset.

6. Transform Fixed to Growth | 15 min

This activity provides a way for teachers to reflect on and change common classroom language into language that is more likely to induce a belief that effort grows intelligence.

FACILITAToR: Distribute the Transforming Fixed to Growth Protocol. Have participants form groups and work together to discuss and transform four fixed or mixed phrases into alternatives. Share the two examples in the slides as a model before participants start working in groups.

PARTICIPANTS: In predetermined groups, use the graphic organizer in the Transforming Fixed to Growth Protocol to identify four fixed/mixed mindset phrases. For each phrase, discuss the underlying attitude behind this fixed/mixed mindset statement. Then brainstorm growth-oriented alternatives. Discuss: What did you learn from this exercise? Were there any phrases you have noticed yourself saying (either recently or in the past)? Which phrases were tough to transform?

If groups have trouble transforming phrases, use the Transforming Fixed to Growth Facilitator Cheat Sheet as a guide. Remind participants that there are many possible solutions for transforming specific phrases.

Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

Review the sample Growth Mindset Feedback and Framing Prompts from Mindset Works.

Analyze Growth Mindset Prompts

Check phrases you’ve used before

Star phrases you’ve used a lot

Circle phrases you’d like to use more

✔

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Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

Transform Fixed to Growth:▪ In groups, review the graphic

organizer in the Transforming Fixed to Growth Protocol.

▪ Identify four fixed/mixed mindset statements.

▪ For each phrase, discuss the underlying attitude behind this fixed/mixed mindset statement.

▪ Then brainstorm growth-oriented alternatives.

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Materials:Distribute

Growth Mindset Feedback

and Framing Prompts

Materials:Distribute Transforming Fixed to Growth Protocol and keep Transforming Fixed to Growth Facilitator Cheat Sheet on hand for yourself

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7. Wrap-Up | 3 min

Reflecting on learning promotes closure and consolidation of new knowledge and skills.

FACILITAToR: Distribute the Exit Ticket. Invite participants to share how their thinking has shifted.

PARTICIPANTS: How do your takeaways compare to the session’s Learning Objectives? How were these objectives addressed?

Consider highlighting specific insights or questions that emerged during the session and how they connect to the Learning Objectives.

8. Next Steps | 2 min

Establishing next steps ensures that today’s work is carried forward.

FACILITAToR: Offer next steps or follow up with participants based on their Exit Ticket responses.

PARTICIPANTS: What’s next for your professional growth? What will you take back to your classroom? What resources will you need? How will you impact student learning? What evidence would determine that impact?

Participants may be at different places at this point. Provide specific recommendations based on readiness, such as those in chart on the following page.

Next Steps | 5 min

Based on where the group lands, invite participants to commit to completing follow-up steps before the next meeting.

Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

Learning Wrap-Up▪ Reflect on what you learned today. ▪ How do your takeaways compare

to the session’s Learning Objecgves? How were these objecgves addressed today?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.

2. Explore pracNcal ways to support students to culNvate a growth mindset.

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Growth Mindset: Persisting in the Face of Challenges

What’s next?▪ Learn more about the difference between

growth mindset and fixed mindset.

▪ Learn more about the importance of growth mindset for student learning.

▪ Learn about how schools have implemented instructional practices that support the development of students’ growth mindset.

▪ Learn about ways to create learning environments that allow students to practice taking risks and activating their growth mindset.

▪ Explore strategies to promote value for learning in the classroom.

▪ Explore strategies to promote a sense of belonging in the classroom. 14

Materials:Distribute Exit Ticket

LEARNINg MINDSETS SESSIoN 2: gRowTh MINDSET: PERSISTINg IN ThE FACE oF ChALLENgES FACILITATOR GUIDE

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If participants need to... Support them in...

Learn more about the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset

à Reading and discussing The Perils and Promises of Praise research by Carol S. Dweck

Ķ Reviewing Growth Mindset Phrases with examples of GM language by David Yeager

Ķ Take a longer Growth Mindset survey based on Carol Dweck’s book Mindset.

Learn more about the importance of growth mindset for student learning

à Reading and discussing Research Matters / Flip the Script on Fate Control by Bryan Goodwin

Learn about how schools have implemented instructional practices that support the development of students’ growth mindsets

à Reading and discussing An Exemplary Growth Mindset Classroom: A case study of one teacher’s journey in changing student mindsets

Learn about ways to create learning environments that allow students to practice taking risks and activating their growth mindset

à Reviewing Learning Mindsets Session 5: Designing Learning Environments That Cultivate Positive Mindsets

Explore strategies to promote value for learning in the classroom

à Reviewing Learning Mindsets Session 4: Value for Learning: Finding Meaning and Purpose at School

Explore strategies to promote a sense of belonging in the classroom

à Reviewing Learning Mindsets Session 3: Sense of Belonging: Creating Safe Learning Environments

Next Steps | continued

Based on where the group lands, invite participants to commit to completing follow-up steps before the next meeting.