Resources to Nurture a Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
Explore a wealth of resources to support your students in developing a growth mindset. You will find a list of picture books, short videos, online resources and growth mindset reading related questions.
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
A growth mindset helps students achieve their educational goals. It also helps them work through difficult tasks. Whereas children with a fixed mindset believe intelligence is fixed from birth and nothing will change it.
Dweck’s research found that intelligence is malleable. It is our approach to learning that determines a growth mindset vs fixed mindset. Though in reality, we all have a mix of both mindsets depending on our previous experiences.
Dweck’s research found students with a growth mindset improved their academic results. The reverse was true of those with a fixed mindset. However, these results increased when children with a fixed mindset understood that brains are a muscle that builds new connections through effort and practice. This knowledge gave children the confidence to learn and positively affect their achievement, engagement and happiness.
“We found that students’ mindsets—how they perceive their abilities—played a key role in their motivation and achievement, and we found that if we changed students’ mindsets, we could boost their achievement. Students who believed their intelligence could be developed (a growth mindset) outperformed those who believed their intelligence was fixed (a fixed mindset).”
Characteristics of a Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
There are many great reasons for having a growth mindset. Click on the Infographic to see the key benefits for those with a growth mindset and what a fixed mindset can look like.
Growth Mindset Teaching Resources
In this section, you can explore picture books, short videos, online resources and growth mindset reading related questions.
Growth Mindset Picture Books
These books all relate to a growth mindset. Click on the images to explore each book, along with resources and lesson plans. After the book list, there is a list of growth mindset questions for you to use during a read-aloud session.
I have created picture book lists on many topics. Below are lists promoting growth mindset traits. Click on the images to explore related recommended books and resources. When you see the list of books click on a cover image to see connected resources and lesson plans. You can also find resources and books that focus on growth mindsets towards the end of this post.
After the list, there is a list of growth mindset questions for you to use during a read-aloud session. This is also a good opportunity to discuss a growth mindset vs fixed mindset.
Growth Mindset Discussion Questions
How could [character] have made the task more challenging?
What other strategies could [character] try?
How do you think [character] will/could solve their problem?
Does [character] have a fixed or growth mindset? Explain.
Why do you think [character] fears trying something new?
What could [character] do differently next time?
How did [character] use failure to create success?
Why does [character] fear trying something new?
What can [character] learn from their mistake?
Did [character] ask for help when they needed it? Would it have made a difference?
Growth Mindset Resources Online
You can read more about Carol Dweck’s research in these documents. A list of her research papers is listed on her Stanford University bio page.
Mindsets That Promote Resilience: When Students Believe That Personal Characteristics Can Be Developed
Carol Dweck Revisits the ‘Growth Mindset’
Academic Tenacity Mindsets and Skills that Promote Long-Term Learning
6 Seconds: 9 Ways to Teach a Growth Mindset to Kids
Athlos Academies: The Impact of a Growth Mindset on Student Achievement and Success
Cbeebies: Growth Mindsets: help your child try new things
Big Life Journal: How to Teach Growth Mindset to Kids (The 4-Week Guide)
Harvard Business Review: What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means
Kirsten’s Kaboodle: 10 Things You Need to Know About Growth Mindset
Mindset Kit: What is a growth mindset?
Moores MasterMinds: What is Growth Mindset?
Motherly: 11 powerful ways to build a growth mindset in your kids
Ms Jordan Reads: Developing a Growth Mindset for Reading
Prodigy Game: 10 Ways Teachers Can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students
Proud to Be Primary: Growth Mindset Activities for Elementary Students: Stop Hearing “I Can’t!”
Renaissance: Growth Mindset
Stanford University: The Project for Education Research that Scales (PERTS)
Understood: Download: Growth Mindset Activities for Kids
Your Brain Health: 8 ways to encourage a growth mindset in kids
Growth Mindset Discussion Videos
These short videos can be used as discussion starters for talking about growth mindset vs fixed mindset. Watch the video before playing them to your students. Some of them are simple while others are more complex or abstract.
In Conclusion...
I will leave the last word to Carol Dweck about the importance of adults in the promotion of a growth mindset and why we need to understand the characteristics.
“If adults react to “children’s mistakes as though they are problematic or harmful, rather than helpful. In these cases, their children develop more of a fixed mindset about their intelligence.” Carol Dweck Revisits the ‘Growth Mindset’
How do you teach a growth mindset in your classroom? Do you have any great activities or resources? Please share them in the comments below!
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Further Reading
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More Books to Explore
The Children’s Library Lady has over 150 picture books on a large variety of topics. You will find book, author and illustrator information, as well as resources. You can also browse themed books lists and explore all the books on the website.
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