Exploring Growth Mindset: Discuss Cards for Classroom Conversations

These discussion cards have been designed to help teachers foster meaningful discussions about growth mindset with their students. These discussion cards are a versatile resource that encourages students to delve into effort, resilience, and the power of a positive mindset. By engaging in thoughtful conversations, students will better understand growth mindset principles and how they apply them to their academic and personal lives.

Here are some of the growth mindset conversation starters:

• What is something you struggled with today?
• Describe a time you found it challenging to get started. How can you motivate yourself?
• What does grit look like when trying something new?
• Share about a time you had a growth mindset?
• Who is your biggest cheerleader? How do they help you?

Activity Ideas Using these Growth Mindset Discussion Cards

• Think-Pair-Share. Have students draw a discussion card, read the question aloud and reflect on it individually. Then, pair up with a classmate to share their thoughts before opening up the discussion to the whole class.
• Gallery Walk. Display discussion cards around the classroom. Students move from card to card, reading the question and jotting down their responses. Afterward, gather the class to discuss the various questions and perspectives.
• Role Play. Assign pairs of students a question from the cards and have them create a short role-play that demonstrates a growth mindset approach.
• Journal Reflection. Every morning, show a discussion card and have students spend some individual time reflecting on the question or statement on the discussion card in their journals.

Download and Discuss Today!

Use the dropdown menu to choose between the PDF or editable Google Slide version of this resource. It is advised you print this set of discussion cards on cardstock to ensure the durability of the resource and keep it in a hard plastic container.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.