Shepherd Junior High Support Group Lesson:
Educator: Eva Dwight and Netina Bodine
School Site: Shepherd Jr. High
Title: Fixed vs Growth Mindset
Note: This lesson is based on information from Carol Dweck’s research on mindset. Her book, Mindset:
The New Psychology of Success, is a must-read for all counselors and teachers!
Group is set up to model the recommendations for classroom implementation in Positive Discipline in the
Classroom, by Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott. Each student has a job that helps the group in some way
(recorder, attendance taker, clean-up crew, etc.), to allow each student to feel a sense of belonging and
significance in the Group. Closure activities generally involve students taking the day’s lesson and using
it over the next week in their classes, and are reviewed at the beginning of each Group session before
starting the next lesson.
Lesson Objective: Students will understand the difference between and growth and fixed mindset, and will
determine a) where in school they are operating with a fixed mindset, and b) how they might start to use a
growth mindset in order to experience greater levels of success.
Grade level: 7 – 9
Time required: 1 class period
ASCA National Standards and Student Competencies supported by this lesson:
Academic Development Domain A: Students will acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills that
contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.
A: A1.1 articulate feelings of competence and confidence as learners
A: A1.5 identify attitudes and behaviors which lead to successful learning
Resources/Materials Used: Learning Targets page, behavior cards for goals for the week, fixed/growth
mindset cards for triad work (provided, labeled 1a/1b, etc.), access to an Internet-ready computer and a
projector so students can watch the following TED talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc
(If you can’t find the link, google TED talk mindset and you should find it pretty quickly.
Anticipatory Set:
1. Before beginning the lesson, have students copy the objective for the day on their Learning Targets page.
They will keep it in their folder, which is used only for Group.
Learning Target:
Topic: fixed vs growth mindset
Thinking Level: analysis and application
Assessment/Do: watch TED talk, complete worksheet
Instructional Procedure:
1. Make several copies of the fixed vs growth mindset feedback cards. Have the kids work in triads: one
person gives the “a” cards to one student and “b” cards to the other. Specify that the statements on the cards
represent self-talk that students might use.
2. After students have given out all of the cards, ask:
a. What differences do you notice in the two kinds of self-talk?
b. People who got the “a” self-talk cards, what were you thinking/feeling/deciding about yourself?
c. People who got the “b” self-talk cards, what were you thinking/feeling/deciding about yourself?
3. Watch the TED talk and stop to process each part of the worksheet. In addition, ask:
a. What kind of puzzle did each group choose after getting the fixed or growth praise?
What caused them to make that choice, do you think?
b. What happened when each group was given the original puzzle a second time? Why do you think that
happened?
c. What would cause the fixed mindset group to lie about their scores?
4. Think to yourself where you might be using a fixed mindset—could be at school, in your family
relationships, or in an extracurricular activity like sports. Particularly at school, what does your fixed mindset
voice say to you? (If you’ve already done the Gremlin and Inner Ally lessons, you might ask kids which
mindset is most reflective of the Gremlin, and which of the Inner Ally.)
*What could you say to yourself instead that would be growth mindset self-talk?
*What might be the benefit/result of changing your thinking process in this situation?
Assessment: The counselor will assess students’ understanding as they contribute to the discussion.
Closure: Hand out a behavior card to kids to write their commitment to themselves about developing a growth
mindset and encourage them to put the card where they can see it and remind themselves to do it. Return the
next week with at least three examples of having used that mindset, and earn three Dwight Dollars/Bodine
Bucks.
Anticipatory Set: Print the following cards. Each left side card matches a right side card, so they are
numbered 1a/1b, 2a/2b, etc. to help you keep them straight. Arrange the cards in piles so that 1b follows 1a, 2b
follows 2a, etc. In their triads, ask the 3rd person to give person 1 the cards with the a’s, and give person 2 the
cards with the b’s, one at a time. As each person is given a card, have them read it to the other two people in
the triad. Ask them to notice the difference between the attitudes/mindsets of the “a” person and the “b” person.
Once students have finished giving out the cards in triads, ask them as a whole group to process the different
attitudes of the “a” person and the “b” person. Write their responses on the board. Then ask them to pay
attention to the TED talk, and watch for which mindset describes the “a” person and which mindset describes
the “b” person.
I’m worthwhile, no matter
what.
I’m a good boy/girl.
1a
1b
Look how far I’ve come! If I
keep trying, I’ll go even
further!
I tried but I still haven’t
mastered this. I give up!
2b
2a
I am proud of myself.
I want my parents and teachers
to be proud of me.
3a
3b
I expect to work hard in order
to be successful.
If something doesn’t come
easy for me, that means I’ll
never be good at it.
4a
4b
I can rely on my good
judgment to make decisions.
I need to listen to what others
say.
5b
5a
I made a lot of mistakes along
the way, but I figured it out.
I followed directions but didn’t
do well so I must stink at this.
I give up.
6a
6b
If I am smart, I will still need
to ask questions because I
wasn’t born knowing
everything.
If I am smart, I shouldn’t need
to ask questions.
7b
7a
I want to make good grades so
I feel accomplished.
I want to make good grades so
I get rewarded.
8a
8b
I am a good team player.
I am the best player on the
team.
9a
9b
If other people notice my
mistakes, they’ll know I’m still
learning.
If other people notice my
mistakes, they will think I’m
not smart.
10a
10b
Name________________________________
_
What is the key to achieving our goals or success? (one word)
________________________________________
What did Josh Waitzkin say was the greatest thing that ever happened to him?
________________________________________________________________________
What was so great about LOSING??!!
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
“The moment we believe that success is determined by an ingrained level of ability, we will be brittle in the
face of adversity.” --Josh Waitzkin
What was the difference between FIXED MINDSET PRAISE and GROWTH MINDSET PRAISE?
Fixed=______________________________________________________________________
Growth=_____________________________________________________________________
People who have a growth mindset are most concerned about _______________________________
___________________________, so they are most focused on their ___________________________.
They see EFFORT as a good thing, as something that makes us __________________, and as a
____________________________________.
When they are faced with adversity, or a challenge, they tend to _____________________
____________________________________ or ______________________________________________
If you listen to your FIXED MINDSET voice and you hear, “I can’t do it,”
…add the word: ___________!!!
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
______________________________________________________.
______________________________________________________.
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
______________________________________________________.
______________________________________________________.
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
______________________________________________________.
______________________________________________________.
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
I think I am using a FIXED mindset in
______________________ because I have been thinking
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
(which class/es)
______________________________________________________.
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
If I start using a GROWTH mindset instead, I will be
thinking _______________________________________
______________________________________________________.
______________________________________________________.
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!
_____Tues _____Wed _____Thurs _____Fri _____Mon
Return to Group next week with at least three instances of using a
Growth Mindset and earn up to 3 Dwight Dollars!