Growth Mindset Teaching Resources
Help students build a growth mindset with teaching resources designed specifically to help establish a growth mindset for kids.
Created by teachers, for teachers, each worksheet, motivational classroom poster and activity in this collection has undergone rigorous review by the Teach Starter team to ensure it's ready for the classroom ... and your primary students!
Are you still learning about the growth mindset and wondering how it applies to kids in your classroom? Read on for some tips from our expert teachers!
What Is a Growth Mindset in the Classroom?
The growth mindset concept — and its counterpart, the fixed mindset — come from the research of Dr. Carol Dweck, an American university professor known for her work on the implicit theories of intelligence. Dweck's research surmises that your mindset falls somewhere on a continuum according to your implicit views of where ability comes from.
Those who believe abilities are innate are said to have a fixed mindset, while those with a growth mindset see learning as a process and understand that we develop over time with learning, hard work, and persistence.
So how do you define a growth mindset for kids?
Broken down to be easily understood by your students, a growth mindset is a belief that you can develop your brain to be better and better at different skills through a mix of effort and different strategies.
Kids with a growth mindset can see failures as learning opportunities and push past them. This is often compared to a fixed mindset, which hampers kids who feel their intelligence and abilities can't substantially improve. A fixed mindset can frustrate students, while a growth mindset offers growth opportunities.
Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset
Here's how Dweck herself described the fixed mindset vs. the growth mindset in one interview: 'In a fixed mindset students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that's that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb. In a growth mindset, students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. They don't necessarily think everyone's the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.'
Dweck says over-praising kids for being intelligent leads to a fixed mindset, with kids afraid to take risks lest they make mistakes. And there are very real impacts.
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Have a Bright Year! Lightbulb Craft
Brighten up your classroom with a fun Lightbulb-themed goal-setting craft activity.
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Positive Growth Mindset Posters
Positive growth mindset posters to display in your classroom.
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When You Enter This Classroom - Door Display
Welcome your students into your classroom with a ‘When You Enter This Classroom” Student Affirmations Classroom Door Display
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Gratitude Journal Writing Prompts for Kids - Daily Slides
Project and inspire reflective writing with 50 gratitude journal writing prompts in one handy slide deck.
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Growth Mindset Bookmarks
Encourage your students to think about their growth mindset with this set of printable bookmarks.
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Growth Mindset Colouring Pages
Inspire creativity and encourage your students to think positively with a set of growth mindset colouring pages.
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Growth Mindset PowerPoint
Help your students develop a growth mindset with a Growth Mindset Teaching Slide Presentation.
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Growth Mindset Game Show Interactive Activity
Explore growth mindset with this interactive activity that encourages students to think, act, write, talk and decide on true or false for a set of questions.
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Ways to Build Self-Esteem Classroom Poster
Nurture your students by providing them with simple ways to build up their self-esteem with this set of classroom posters.
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Growth Mindset Worksheet Pack
Help students change their mindset to a growth mindset with this set of worksheets.
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Social Emotional Learning - Question of the Day Morning Meeting Prompts
Download 180 days of morning meeting questions to foster communication and positivity while building relationships in your classroom.
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What's Your Mindset Level? - Poster
Encourage your students to adopt a growth mindset with this engaging classroom poster.
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Growth Affirmation Display Banner
A beautifully designed growth affirmation display banner for the classroom.
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Growth and Fixed Mindset Poster
Help your students choose a growth mindset with this poster highlighting the differences between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset.
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Positive Self Talk Poster: Talking to Myself
Highlight the benefits of positive self talk and having a growth mindset with this classroom poster.
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Growth Mindset Interactive Activity
Engage students in spending time looking at how to grow their growth mindset with this interactive activity.
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Growth Mindset Flipbook
Explore the topic of growing your mindset with your students using this engaging flipbook template.
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Growing GRIT Writing Template
Encourage students to think about what grit is as well as words that describe grit with this craft template.
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Positive Affirmations for Kids - Posters
Help your students overcome self-doubt with this set of posters containing positive affirmations for kids.
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Positive Affirmation Cards for Kids
A set of 24 inspiring positive affirmation cards to encourage a growth mindset, self-confidence and self-belief.
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Developing a Growth Mindset – Worksheets
Help your students develop a growth mindset and set achievable goals with a printable pack of growth mindset worksheets.
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Growth Mindset Worksheets
A set of worksheets to use when teaching students about Growth Mindsets.
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The Power of YET Poster Set
Encourage your students to change their growth mindset with this set of posters.
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Growth or Fixed Mindset Sorting Activity
Help students understand the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset with this sorting activity.
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Growth Mindset Bulletin Board
Print a growth mindset bulletin board to display in your primary classroom.
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Growth Mindset/Mindfulness/Wellbeing Display Banner
A classroom display banner to use on your 'Growth Mindset' display board.
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'My Curious Mind' Growth Mindset Art Activity
A creative visual art activity, inspired by Professor Stephen Hawking, to use when learning about growth mindset.
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Growth vs. Fixed Mindset Statements - Worksheet
Assess student understanding about the different statements that one might say to distinguish between having a growth or fixed mindset.
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Growth Mindset Exit Tickets
Assess your student's understanding of everything growth mindset with this set of exit tickets.
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Let's Look at Self Esteem Interactive Activity
Boost your students' self-esteem with this fun and engaging interactive activity.
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Self -Esteem Flipbook
Explore the topic of self-esteem with your students using this engaging flipbook template.
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Growth Mindset Mini-Book
Teach your students about growth mindset with this printable book, perfect for your social emotional lessons!