!

Directions
!!
!Materials:
!
!You will need a computer with internet access and an LCD projector to show the
video clips. I have embedded the videos on my website to make it easier for you to access
them (https://truthforteachers.com/growth-mindset-videos/). The only materials
students will need is something to write with. Everything else is included!

Preparation:

1) Read through and print the Teacher’s Guide for yourself. Or, just use this digital copy,
but make sure you print the PDF with the bulletin board/posters/certificates. I recommend
!having these printed out before starting the unit so you have everything you need all
!ready to go.
!2) Print out the 20 page student interactive journal, make a class set of photocopies, and Getting started with the unit is
!staple each each student’s copy down the left to create a booklet. That’s it!
!
easy and quick, and pacing
!Teaching the Unit: ideas are provided
!
!This is NOT a set of independent activities or worksheets to pass out and have kids do on their
!own. This is an instructional unit that walks you step-by-step through the process of
teaching your students and guiding their practice through various activities. You should
!set aside approximately 25-35 minutes of class time for each lesson. Throughout the unit,
!you’ll find ideas for embedding the lessons you’ve taught into your daily classroom
!routines.
!
!How to Pace the Unit:
!
!This 10 lesson unit is designed to be flexible. I recommend teaching 1 lesson a week
during the first month of school, and then spacing out the remaining 6 lessons over the
!months that follow. However, you can also teach one or two lessons a month or follow any
!other format you’d like. You can begin this unit at ANY time during the school year, and
!condense or expand the time frame to whatever meets your students’ needs the best.
!
Questions? Email me at: [email protected]

©2015 Angela Watson TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com

 Each lesson has step-by-step,
no prep instructions in the teacher’s
guide and interactive journal
activities for students
 Specifically, the lessons each include:

• An informal warm-up activity to review what kids already learned

• Video clips, partner activities, discussion questions, and more to build background
knowledge and help kids understand the concepts

• Interactive journal activities to help students dig deeper, reflect on their learning,
and apply the concepts to their lives in authentic, meaningful ways
 The 20 page interactive
journal is full of independent
and collaborative activities
that require kids to reflect on
their thinking, effort,
and growth.

The unit culminates with a

project in which students
share their learning
with others.
 Here are the interactive journal activities for each lesson:

Lesson 1: I can learn anything because I was born to learn

• What does it mean to be smart (pre-quiz)

• “Born to learn” reflection activity

Lesson 2: I can train my brain through practice

• Reflection activity: what I’m good at and how I’ve trained my brain

Lesson 3: I can choose my thoughts when things are challenging

• Interactive bulletin board creation

• Choosing personal growth mindset thoughts to replace fixed mindset
thoughts

Lesson 4: I know failure is an important part of my success

• Interview a person you admire to learn about their mistakes and

progress
• Share your interview summary with the class
Lesson 5: I take ownership of my mistakes and learn from them:

• Brainstorming what I can tell myself when I make a mistake

• Brainstorming what to say when others point out my mistakes
• Actively watching for a chance to learn from a mistake this week and reflecting on it

Lesson 6: I do not let setbacks keep me from accomplishing goals.

• Partner activity reflecting on and comparing how we’ve overcome setbacks

• Ask 5 adults: what do you wish every kid knew about overcoming their problems?
• Choose an option for sharing the best advice with the class

Lesson 7: I believe that I can do difficult things.

• Reflection on a time I surprised myself by doing something really hard

• Growth mindset/grit vocabulary activity
• Actively looking for an opportunity to show grit this week and reflecting on it
Lesson 8: I take charge of my own learning.

• Brainstorming some skills I’d like to be better at and how I can train my brain to do that
• Choosing one skill to pursue and creating a plan for taking charge of my learning

Lesson 9: I encourage others to have a growth mindset.

• Culminating project: working collaboratively to choose a presentation method for

teaching kids outside our class about growth mindset
• Creating and sharing the presentation, and using a rubric to self-assess it

Lesson 10: I celebrate my own growth and progress.

• Reflecting back on how I took charge of my own learning in pursuing something I’m
passionate about
• Re-taking the initial “what does it mean to be smart” quiz
• Reflecting in writing on how my mindset has changed throughout the unit
• Choosing a collaborative class celebration, ceremony, or party for growth mindset
Bonus ideas are included throughout the unit to help students apply what they’ve
learned to their everyday work in the classroom.

!!
! More resources for extending
!
! student learning about
growth mindset

1. Read your students books about growth mindset and neuroplasticity.

One of the best children’s books on growth mindset is Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by Dr. JoAnn Deak.
!!Making a Splash: A Growth Mindset Children’s Book by Carol E. Reiley is also helpful. Additionally, there are a
number of children’s books which illustrate the concept of growth mindset without explicitly teaching it. I like
!
!
Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka and The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett.
!
! !2. Use apps and web tools to teach kids about growth mindset.
! There is a priced app for “Your Fantastic Elastic Brain” which includes an eBook version of the book (above)
! along with interactive features. You might also want to try the Brain Jump app for iPad for iPhone—it’s priced but
well worth the money. I also like the free online brain songs provided by the University of Washington and the
! free resources from Mindset Works (you must sign up via email to get them.)
! 3. Incorporate 20% Time, Genius Hour, or Innovation Day to help kids take ownership of their learning.
!
In recent years, many teachers have experimented with taking student directed projects to a new level through
! 20% Time. The term originated with Google’s 20% policy, in which employees are allowed to use twenty percent
of their working hours to pursue a project of their own choosing. In the classroom, 20% Time is a portion of the
! school day or week in which students are allowed to pick their own projects or even learning outcomes. Some
! teachers keep this very structured, and require students to use the project to work toward the standards and
!
skills for their grade level. Other teachers use more of an open ended format such an Innovation Day or Genius
! !
Hour, which allows kids to choose “passion projects” and explore any topic they’re really interested in. You can
visit GeniusHour.com to learn more about the practicalities of these projects and how to implement them in your
! !
own classroom.
! ! Support students in creating helpful classroom displays to reinforce learning.
4.
! ! about what students would like to have as a reference in the classroom to help them maintain a growth
Find
! !
mindset and take ownership of their learning. Would students like to make an anchor chart with strategies they
can use when they get stuck? Do they want to display growth mindset vocabulary words and definitions so they
! ! try to use them in their conversations? Maybe they’d like to display some of their reflections about or
can
! strategies for learning to help other kids in the class?
!
! !
5. Have students create their own resources for helping others understand growth mindset.

! !
Provide as many opportunities as possible for students to teach others what they’ve learned. For example, you
! could show students how people have used the free web tool Powtoon to create growth mindset videos, and
!encourage students to create their own. Help kids make a difference beyond the four walls of the classroom!

©2015 Angela Watson TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com

A certificate and 3 printable posters
are included to reinforce the lessons
and celebrate kids’ progress
A full color and black and white version of the bulletin board set is included along with
a detailed lesson plan for teaching students to use and personalize the display

Change your words,

change your mindset!
Check out the complete product line for
5th grade math!

©Angela Watson All Rights Reserved TruthforTeachers.com

 HOW TO STAY CONNECTED AND
GET MORE RESOURCES

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE…

I’m Angela Watson, the creator of this resource. I’m a National Board Certified Teacher with a masters degree in
Curriculum and Instruction, and have 11 years of classroom teaching experience and over a decade of experience as an
instructional coach. I currently work as a Productivity and Mindset Specialist in the area of educational consulting. In
practical terms, this means I author books, design curriculum, and provide professional development services. Everything I
do is centered on sharing more effective, efficient, and enjoyable ways of teaching and learning!

I founded my website (TruthforTeachers.com) in 2003 to connect with other educators. You can now find thousands of ad-
free articles and resources there from me and our K-12 teacher-writer’s collective.

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