Mindset Mondays: A Teacher's Growth Mindset Guide

Mindset Mondays: Build Resilience, Foster Success

The idea for Mindset Mondays came to me when I was teaching 6th-grade science at a small rural school. My students, many of whom struggled with thinking they were "bad at science" or that they simply couldn’t succeed, lacked the confidence to take on challenges. I began exploring ways to help them believe in their ability to grow and improve. This led me to discover growth mindset, which transformed not only my classroom but also how my students viewed themselves and their potential.
I believe in the transformative power of a growth mindset—not just for students, but for us as educators. When we model resilience, persistence, and the ability to embrace challenges, we create an environment where students feel safe to grow and thrive.
This journey isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about helping students see mistakes not as failures, but as stepping stones to success. And it’s about showing them that even we, as teachers, are constantly learning.
Through Mindset Mondays, I aim to help students build confidence by fostering a growth mindset. When students understand that their abilities aren’t fixed, and that hard work and perseverance lead to success, their confidence grows. This unit will provide the tools students need to overcome challenges, persist through failure, and ultimately find joy in learning.
Throughout this semester, I’ll be releasing an 18-week series of Mindset Mondays designed to give you the resources to boost your students’ confidence and equip them with strategies for success. The series will feature professor and student interviews, an introduction to growth mindset, mindset mantras, journal reflections, and more to help you create a classroom environment where students believe in their potential.

What is Growth Mindset?

A growth mindset is the belief that we can grow and improve through effort, persistence, and learning. It’s about seeing challenges as opportunities, learning from mistakes, and recognizing that setbacks aren’t the end—they’re part of the process.

On the flip side, a fixed mindset is when we believe our abilities are set in stone, making it harder to take risks or embrace failure. And let’s be real—it’s easy to fall into that mindset sometimes, especially when things feel overwhelming.

Why It Matters for Teachers

As teachers, we’re not just helping students learn facts or skills; we’re showing them how to approach life. When we embrace a growth mindset ourselves, we show them it’s okay to try, fail, and try again. Here’s what that can look like:

Modeling Resilience: Letting students see that mistakes are part of learning.
Creating a Supportive Space: Encouraging curiosity, effort, and perseverance over “getting it right” the first time.
Building Lifelong Learners: Showing them that growth doesn’t stop—it’s a journey we’re all on.
Boosting Confidence: Helping them believe, “I can get better at this.”

Here’s the key: growth mindset isn’t about being positive all the time. We all have moments when we feel stuck or frustrated. What matters is how we handle those moments—taking a step back, being kind to ourselves, and figuring out how to move forward.

Reflect and Grow

Let’s take a moment to reflect. Think about a challenge you’ve faced as an educator. Maybe it was trying something new, managing a tricky situation, or feeling like things weren’t going the way you hoped.

Ask yourself:

What made that moment feel so tough?
How did you work through it (even if it wasn’t perfect)?
What would you say to encourage someone else going through the same thing?

And here’s the big one:

Was there a moment when you thought, “I can’t do this”? What helped you push through—or what could help next time?

Journaling Prompt:

Write about a time when you tackled something new or difficult. How did it feel at first? What kept you going? How could sharing this story inspire your students?

Example Scenario:

Imagine you’re introducing a new teaching strategy to your class. You’re excited but quickly realize that it’s not going as planned—the students seem confused, and the lesson feels chaotic. In that moment, it’s easy to think, “I’m just not good at this,” which is a fixed mindset.
Later, as you reflect, you recognize that this is part of the learning process. You think, “This didn’t work out today, but I can try a different approach tomorrow.” The next day, you decide to address the class with honesty:
"I realized yesterday’s activity didn’t work the way I hoped. That’s okay—it’s a chance to learn and try again. Today, we’re going to approach it differently, and I think we’ll see some improvement together."
By admitting your struggle and showing how you’re moving forward, you model vulnerability and resilience for your students. This encourages them to see challenges as opportunities for growth.

Try This in Your Classroom

Bringing a growth mindset into your classroom doesn’t have to be a big, complicated change. Start with small shifts that show students how powerful effort and reflection can be. Here are some simple ways to get started:

Talk About Your Own Learning:
Show students that you’re learning alongside them. For example:
- “I tried something new in my lesson today, and it didn’t go quite as planned. That’s okay—it’s a chance to learn and adjust. Let’s see if this next approach works better.”
- “I used to think I wasn’t good at technology, but the more I practiced, the more confident I’ve become.”
Use Growth-Focused Language:
The way we talk to students can make a huge difference. Try phrases like:
- “You’re not there yet, but I can see how much progress you’ve made.”
- “This is a tricky one, but tricky means we’re stretching our brains.”
- “You’ve put in a lot of effort on this—what do you think helped you improve?”
- “Mistakes are how we figure things out. Let’s look at what this mistake is teaching us.”
Reframe Student Mindsets:
When you hear a student say, “I’m just bad at this,” help them see it differently:
- “It’s okay to feel frustrated—this is how learning feels sometimes. Let’s break it down together.”
- “What’s one small thing you could try to get a little closer to understanding?”
- “Remember, everyone starts somewhere. Effort is what moves us forward.
Celebrate Growth Moments:
Take time to point out when effort and persistence pay off:
- “I noticed how you kept trying even when it was tough. That’s growth mindset in action!”
- “This was tricky last week, and look at how far you’ve come. What are you most proud of?”

Mindset Mantras

Each week, we’ll introduce a new Mindset Mantra—a simple, powerful phrase to inspire your students and set a positive tone for the week. Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the mantras we’ll be using:

“Every mistake makes us better.”
“I can’t do it... yet.”
“Effort grows ability.”

Use these mantras to spark conversations, encourage reflection, or as a reminder that growth is always possible. Stay tuned for more in upcoming lessons!

Final Thought: Gentle Goal Setting

Before diving into classroom changes, let’s take a moment to focus on you. Growth mindset starts with how we approach our own challenges and opportunities. Over the next few weeks, try setting one small goal to practice growth mindset in your own life.

Here are some ideas to inspire you:

Reframe a challenge you’re facing by focusing on the process. Instead of thinking, “I can’t do this,” try, “I’m working on this, and each step moves me closer.”
Celebrate your progress in something new you’re learning, even if it feels slow.
Recognize growth as a journey. When something feels hard, remind yourself: “Learning takes time, and every step I take is part of my growth.”
Practice vulnerability with your students by sharing a time you learned from a mistake or a tough moment.

Your goal doesn’t have to be big—small, intentional steps can lead to meaningful change. Write your goal down and check in with yourself as you work toward it.

Remember: growth isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Give yourself grace as you take this step toward a growth mindset.

Your Voice Matters

Mindset Mondays is designed to grow and evolve with your feedback. Let us know how these resources are working in your classroom:

What’s resonating with you or your students?
What challenges are you facing with implementation?
What ideas do you have to make these even more impactful?

Reach out to share your thoughts and experiences—I’d love to hear from you and learn how Mindset Mondays is making a difference in your classroom.