What is Growth Mindset?

When Growth Mindset first became a buzz phrase in education, I was already retired, but many of my colleagues and my family have told me, since,  that I have a Growth Mindset.

Before this phrase, I was considered to have a positive, motivated personality where I never seemed to give up until I figured it out... so to speak... and I always took risks in my learning and teaching ...now to me and some others...those characteristics might be considered to be an obsessive compulsive type A personality, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that continuously thinking positively about situations and realizing that all things are possible if you try hard enough to achieve them, I am thinking Growth Mindset is just that!



Within your classroom, you can probably categorize your students into 2 or 3 basic groups: 


1.  Those that may not have the ability or talent, but consistently strive to do better and have the attitude that "I might not know it NOW, but if I keep trying, I will get it and be there."

2.  Those that have a strong ability and keep trying to get better and better, set goals and do their best to achieve those goals accepting the setbacks,but keep on trying.

3.  Those that have a fixed or closed mindset in that they just feel like they will never be where the others are and give up pretty easily and are overwhelmed or their spirit is devastated when they cannot do something or get what they need or want.

I am sure there may be more categories, but basically speaking, and I am not an expert on this topic, there are Growth Mindsets and Fixed Mindsets.


Think about it...I bet you can tell me exactly which of your family members fall into which category.


When students believe they can do something, they recognize that effort or consistently trying will make them better. That being said, they will put in extra time and effort, and that will lead them to higher achievement and success with their goals....simply put that is the foundation of a Growth Mindset!

According to Carol Dweck after studying the behavior of a plethora of students, she and her colleagues noticed that some students will move forward without a thought and others were crushed or overwhelmed by the smallest mistake or set back.

Dr. Dweck created Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset to describe the basic ideas people have about learning and intelligence or the ability to think and learn. (If you search Carol Dweck, you can find much research and articles on the topic of fixed and growth mindset...here is a great video to watch: The Power of Believing you can Improve)

I have always tried to have a Growth Mindset or in my case, a positive outlook and have encouraged and supported my own children and my students to embrace this thinking.  It is easy to say, “You can do it!” but more important to show or demonstrate how they can do this by getting students to think metacognitively or in other words, to think about their thinking and change their thinking from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset...or believing they can do it instead of They CAN'T do it!)

That being said, how do we achieve this type of thinking...or...Encourage a Growth Mindset in our classrooms? 


😊Self Talk:                

Self talk can support your thinking in that what we "tell ourselves" is usually what we believe. So if you think you can do something, you usually will eventually be able to accomplish it.  

Now... that is not to say that it will happen magically, but it is to say that "hard work pays off!" Encourage this type of "talk" with your students and your own children!



😀Encouraging Words:  

As teachers, we need to support our students with positive language and encouraging words.  Use statements; such as:


You may feel like you can't do it right now, but if you study those words those words and work hard, you will eventually remember how to spell them!


Also: "I know it is hard sometimes to keep your hands to yourself, but if you remember to STOP and think, you will be able to control your actions."

Maybe you might try something like this:  " You might not be able to do this math problem right now, but my job is to teach you how to do it...so with my help you will learn this!"

Everyone can use a bit of encouragement in everything we encounter in life!


Let's remember to change, "I can't into I can't do this YET!


😊 Encourage Support that enables our students to gain confidence in their abilities to be Independent:   

Now that is a lot to think about...but what I am saying is not to help your students and children so much that we enable them to be helpless and always count on us to do it for them.

In other words give them responsibilities and support them as needed...don't do it for them, but scaffold the learning of a task or break it into manageable parts to build confidence.  I think you get what I mean...at least I hope you "GET IT!"

So...you give your students the tools needed to be successful with the task or concept and you show them how to do it, but allow them the time necessary to master the concept!


That may mean to differentiate your lessons as needed in order to show students they CAN DO IT!


It also means to show your students their growth...set a goal for a concept, set the steps to reach the goal and then show where they are in the beginning of a learning experience, where they are as they are learning a concept and then the end result or when they reach their goal.  This encourages a Growth Mindset and demonstrates with hard work you can achieve your goals.

This can easily be done with sight words, kid writing, math facts and really any learning concept or goal!


Here is a student using a sheet to set a goal, write how she feels and thinks about it,what steps she needs to take to accomplish her goal, which is to ride a two wheel bicycle, or she makes a plan and then she responds how she will feel when she achieves this goal!

😊 Encouraging Students to be Responsible: 

In my former classroom, I always assigned important classroom jobs to encourage responsibility in that if a child did not complete his/her classroom job, our classroom would not run as smoothly as it should.

Everyone had a job and an important responsibility in the morning and afternoon. If they forgot, we talked about how everyone makes mistakes and it is okay, tomorrow is another day and you have another chance to try it again...the next day,when the child remembered his job, imagine how s/he felt...you guessed it proud and confident and guess what s/he learned?  YEP...I can do it and it is ok to make a mistake...we learn from our mistakes!  they also learned that if we all work together we can accomplish a goal...in this case...making our classroom run smoothly!  Something as small as this can encourage a growth mindset.



😀Hearing Success Stories: 

Just hop on the internet and you will find many true stories of people who overcame hardships or difficulties in their life. Sharing these stories with your students and children will motivate them to do their best and show them that many times we think we  CAN'T do something but with hard work, determination and a positive attitude...WE CAN DO IT in time!






With the concept of Growth Mindset in mind, I have created a few Growth Mindset resources to support positive thinking and to encourage your students to change their thinking!  You can find these resources right here!                 
                                                                                                                                                               
These 2 resources are banners to hang in your classroom that present rules in an "I CAN" statement to encourage confidence and responsibility!


If you are looking for posters, writing frames and task cards to support Growth mindset, here are some resources that will do just that!

Perhaps you are only interesting in Posters in Kid Friendly Language to hang in your classroom as reminders of how to think when you are faced with a problem and to encourage a Growth Mindset, then here you go!! 
                                                         
This is just my opinion on how you can promote a Growth Mindset in your classroom ... I have many other ideas, but the purpose of blogging about a topic is to make it short and to the point!!!

I would LOVE to hear ideas that you have used in your classroom!  Please share your ideas in the comments below!!!


Oh No...it's that time of year again. Thanksgiving is approaching and then...yes...then the dreaded Black Friday!  You come back into your classroom and the kiddos are all riled up...

SANTA has come to town and everything you had planned to teach goes right down the chimney...crash, bang, splat...

You bring in the Elf on the Shelf to keep an eye on the class and someone touches it and now it has

lost it's magic powers and you are back to square one...You pretend you see Santa at the window or maybe you even get a phone call or e-mail from old Saint Nick...nothing seems to get your excited students back to earth...Well...here is my motto: "Jolly Ole' St. Nicholas is coming down the chimney so make the best of it and have some fun with learning!"

That Elf on the Shelf looks so cute just sitting there, but he causes so much mischief! ⇰⇰⇰⇰

Here are some ideas to "Make the Holidays Bright the Last Few Weeks Before Winter Break"...



One of my favorite Christmas Crafts is this Torn  Paper Christmas Tree. It is great for fine motor skills and can be used with a unit about Holidays around the World to learn how the Christmas tree came to be. As you will see, this craft is easy, fun and creative for everyone...all ages!











Of course this tree craft has to have a reason to be created especially if you are in a school district that encourages teaching all Holidays around the world...not simply Christmas...don't worry, I have you covered...I am thinking that I may be your BFF teaching buddy right about now because I have the perfect resource for you complete with a Power Point to teach about a few Winter Holidays Around the World.  These are geared toward Kindergarten, First and possibly Second grades.

This resource is complete with a craft to represent many of the countries and holidays represented and much much more. 








Here are a few of the crafts represented in this resource and a there is also a powerpoint to teach about all the holidays included in Winter Holidays around the World!



Hanukkah Menorah

Kwanzaa weaving

Headbands for St. Lucia Day 







If you are looking for a fun "Read and Write the Room Resource"...you are in the right place!
This Santa Clues Activity is just right for YOU and your Kiddos!   
If you love wishes and gift giving, this fun differentiated will be a "go to" activity for years to come.  It includes wishes and gifts for the world, new year and family!


Maybe you will want to have some morning work available to support Common Core and calm your kiddos down a bit. You might like these booklets!  Holiday Fun for Grades K and 1

















Did I hear you say it would be an awesome idea if there were a few math resources to support math facts...well...your wish is my command.  Math Fact Roll and Cover Dice Game

So I hope this early holiday gift will bring a little sunshine your way and make your season bright!

In today's face paced world of running around trying to get meals made or rushing through the drive through before practices plus eating breakfast quickly before the bus comes, we need to provide an environment in which kids feel safe, calm and can feel like they can be their best selves.
Pssst…Many teachers give their students morning work to complete, which is fine.  However what I suggest doing, and have done over the years, is to give students a “soft landing” time. This ensures they’re more motivated to learn and feel more positive throughout the day!
So here are a few tips that you can put into place immediately that will give your kiddos a relaxed, positive haven using techniques that will promote positive behavior management. 
Psst...Be sure to visit Beneylu school to read the full article and you will definitely be interested to see what Beneylu School has to offer your classroom and district!!
If you want to read the full post, click the link below!
Classroom Management 7 Actions to build Positive Behavior in your Classroom


Are you looking for some spectacular Classroom Management Resources?  Click here to check out a few!



Here is a cute turkey craft that you can make at school before Wednesday or at home with your own kiddos...Enjoy!

Well...I have to admit last year I posted this a  little late. So this year I am doing the TURKEY TROT and posting it with lots of time to spare...so round up those brown paper bags and add this adorable turkey centerpiece craft to your plans...your kiddos will love making it and the parents will absolutely LOVE it and if you add the recipe suggestions, they will even LOVE it more! YEP...If you really want to make it special, type up the recipe for Leftover Turkey here or here is another recipe to use. To make it even easier, just type up the URL link and don't forget to add this one...my favorite!!! BUT...the turkey centerpiece is fine alone and is so cute!!

Oh...if you are not in school or a homeschooler, have your kids make it at home as a Thanksgiving fun craft. I have created this with my grandkids and they LOVED it!!!

I hear you...you just looked at this cute craft and said out loud, " I LOVE this Turkey Craft and I want to make it tomorrow...so how do I do that?"

Never fear...the easy directions are right here.  


Materials:  


  • Brown Paper Lunch-sized bags
  • Google Eyes
  • Red, Yellow, Brown and Yellow Construction Paper

  • Markers and Crayons
  • A Wooden Spoon to use as a tracer to make the turkey head tracers for kids to use.
  • Copies of recipes or note with URL's for Leftover Turkey Recipe(optional).
Directions: 
  1. Use a Wooden Spoon to trace as many turkey heads as you want to have for your class to share.
  2. Make or find a Diamond shape to make tracers for the beak and quickly draw a turkey foot, which can be made by tracing your pointer, middle and ring finger at the tips and add a curve at the bottom. Your tracers might look something like this:
  3. Using a paper cutter cut strips of various colors of construction paper about 1"x 9 to use for legs and 1/2" x 9" from red paper for the gobblers.
  4. Give each child a paper bag and have them decorate the outside of the bag.
5.  Children trace 1 head, 1 beak and 2 feet on red, yellow, 
     orange or brown construction paper cut smaller for each 
     part of the turkey.
6.  Children trace their hands on a choice color construction 
     paper and put aside. These will be feathers. 
7.  Give each child a red gobbler and 2 legs. Now they have 
     all the parts they need to create their turkey.
8.  Have children fold the top of their bag down so it does not
     cover their design and glue the head on top; fold the beak 
     in half and glue onto head.  
9.  Roll the gobbler around a pencil to "curl" it and glue it on
     top of the beak.
    


10.  Glue 2 google eyes on the head above the beak, glue traced hands on each side of the turkey's 
       body for wings, glue feet on the strips for legs. Children can fold or curl legs as desired. 
       AND....drum roll please....here is the end result (hopefully).


OOPS!  I almost forgot...If you are looking for some other great "Turkey Day" Resources...Just take a LOOK below...I have a few for different activities and ideas for various grade levels right here:

You will LOVE this Thanksgiving Stations BUNDLE...it includes everything you need to run Literacy Stations in a SNAP!                                       
Thanksgiving Stations Learning Fun with Common Core Math and ELA for 1st and 2nd Grades
 

CVC Word Game Worksheets with Thanksgiving Theme for Grades K-1
I always felt that is was so important to teach thematically and to integrate various subjects when doing so...

This resource is a prime example...using a Thanksgiving theme to play a cvc word game and to make learning fun!

This resource was created with differentiation in mind. 

Thanksgiving Activities For First Grade

Thanksgiving: A time to think about everything we are thankful for in our lives...It is also a time to teach our students about how this holiday came to be and why we celebrate it!

If you are teaching about Thanksgiving, then you will want to add this resource to theThanksgiving activities that you are already use, but this resource is really all you will need to teach all about this holiday! 







Thanksgiving Math Activities Aligned with Common Core

These Fun Thanksgiving Math Activities can be used to enhance any of your Station activities that you already have in place to add a little Turkey Caper Math Activities for Thanksgiving that are aligned with Common Core!

These stations would be great to use the week or a few days before Thanksgiving as rotations during your math time







Thanksgiving Activities for Grades Second, Third and Fourth Grade  
If you are like me, you love to have activities on hand to simply print and use quickly and easily!

If that is the case, these Thanksgiving activities are easy and fun for your students and of course will make you life much easier.

These Thanksgiving activities are geared to grades 2-4, but can be used in different ways as you see fit for your learners and can be easily differentiated as needed.


Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your family and remember to be thankful for all the blessings you have in your life and there are many!!!