At the start of each school year, one of my primary goals is to foster a strong sense of community in my classroom. A great way to achieve this is through the engaging and inspiring works of Peter H. Reynolds, particularly his books The Dot and Ish. These delightful read-alouds not only capture students’ imaginations but also serve as perfect introductions to the concept of a growth mindset. Through these stories, students learn that taking risks and making mistakes are essential parts of the learning process. Building on the themes presented in these books, I implemented a growth mindset activity that resonated deeply with my students. Here’s a detailed look at how this activity unfolded and the positive impact it had on my classroom environment.
Understanding Growth Mindset
Before diving into the activity itself, it’s important to understand what a growth mindset entails. Coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, the term refers to the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. In contrast, a fixed mindset suggests that our qualities are set in stone, which can hinder personal growth and achievement. By fostering a growth mindset in the classroom, we empower students to embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and view effort as a pathway to mastery.
The Role of The Dot and Ish
Peter H. Reynolds’ The Dot tells the story of a young girl named Vashti, who discovers her artistic potential after being encouraged by her teacher. The simple act of making a dot inspires her to explore her creativity further, teaching students that everyone has the ability to create and grow, regardless of initial talent. Similarly, Ish follows Vashti’s journey as she learns that art doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Together, these stories communicate the importance of perseverance, self-expression, and the value of mistakes as learning opportunities.
The Growth Mindset Activity
This year, I decided to kick off our discussions with an engaging activity inspired by a tweet I had seen. I prepared a series of key growth mindset words, writing each one on a piece of plain paper. The words I chose included “courage,” “persistence,” “dedication,” “effort,” “failure,” and “success.” After introducing each word to the class and reading them aloud, I asked students to raise their hands if they had an idea of what each word meant.
To my surprise, when I asked about “persistence” and “dedication,” a few hands stayed down. This provided an excellent opportunity to dive deeper into these concepts. As a class, we discussed the meanings of these words, and I shared personal stories that illustrated their importance in my own life. By connecting the vocabulary to real-world examples, students began to see how these concepts apply beyond the classroom.
Setting the Scene
Once we had established a solid understanding of the key terms, I spread the pieces of paper around the room. I also provided markers for the students. I instructed them to move from word to word, silently reflecting on each term before drawing or writing their interpretations. I emphasized that this was a silent activity, allowing each student to think deeply about the words without distractions.
At first, I was concerned about how my usually chatty class would handle this silent activity. However, to my delight, the room was filled with focused energy. You could have heard a pin drop as students immersed themselves in their thoughts. The silence spoke volumes about their concentration and engagement.
Observing Student Creativity
As students moved around the room, I had the chance to observe their interpretations. Some drew elaborate pictures that represented their understanding of the words, while others wrote thoughtful phrases that encapsulated their thoughts. For example, one student illustrated “persistence” as a person climbing a mountain, symbolizing the effort required to overcome challenges. Another student represented “dedication” with an image of a plant being watered, signifying the nurturing needed for growth.
Seeing their creativity unfold was incredibly rewarding. This activity not only sparked individual reflections but also allowed students to express their understanding of growth mindset concepts in unique ways. Their insights were a testament to their ability to grasp and internalize these important ideas.
Reflecting on the Impact
Reflecting on this activity, I realized its impact went beyond just understanding vocabulary. It created a safe space for students to express themselves and embrace the idea that making mistakes is part of learning. The activity not only promoted individual growth mindset understanding but also fostered a sense of community as students collaborated and shared their thoughts.
Building a Classroom Community
Fostering a growth mindset is not just about academic success; it’s also about building a supportive classroom community. By encouraging students to share their thoughts and experiences, we create an environment where everyone feels valued. This sense of belonging is crucial for learning, as students are more likely to take risks and engage in challenging tasks when they feel supported by their peers and teachers.
In the days following the activity, I noticed a shift in my classroom culture. Students became more willing to share their struggles and seek help when needed. They began to celebrate each other’s efforts, reinforcing the idea that learning is a journey that everyone is on together.
Expanding the Growth Mindset Theme
Once we had completed the initial activity, I found ways to weave growth mindset principles into our ongoing curriculum. Here are a few strategies I implemented to reinforce these ideas throughout the year:
Daily Reflections
Every morning, I encouraged students to take a few minutes to reflect on their learning from the previous day. They could write in journals or share with a partner. Questions like “What challenge did I face yesterday?” or “How did I show persistence?” helped them connect daily experiences to the growth mindset concepts we had discussed.
Celebrating Mistakes
I made a point to celebrate mistakes in our classroom. Each week, we would highlight a “Mistake of the Week” where students could anonymously share a mistake they made and what they learned from it. This not only normalized the concept of making mistakes but also encouraged students to see the value in learning from their errors.
Growth Mindset Challenges
Throughout the year, I introduced “Growth Mindset Challenges” where students could take on tasks that pushed them out of their comfort zones. These challenges ranged from trying a new subject area to tackling a difficult problem in math. We would then discuss their experiences as a class, emphasizing the effort and learning that came from taking risks.
Conclusion
Incorporating a growth mindset into your classroom not only enhances academic success but also cultivates a positive and supportive community. The activity I shared serves as a simple yet effective way to introduce students to the concept of growth mindset while encouraging creativity, collaboration, and self-reflection.
As you embark on your journey to promote growth mindset principles in your classroom, remember
