On this page, we will look at some scenarios that you can possibly come across in your teaching. These scenarios will help you identify certain mindsets, help students with fixed mindsets understand that intelligence can be improved, and finally be able to foster a growth mindset in your classroom.
Scenario 1: A student enters a gymnastics competition, puts in her best effort, and doesn’t win?
Task 1: What do you think her teacher told her to foster a growth mindset?
Scenario 2: Mrs. Winn is monitoring her students during independent seat work. She observes Justin getting frustrated with one of the math problems he is working on. Justin slams his pencil down, which causes Mrs. Winn to go over to him immediately. She asks Justin what it is he is struggling with and he responds, “I hate math. I am not smart enough for this kind of math.” Mrs. Winn responds by saying, “Oh yes, you are Justin!”
Task 2: Read the scenario above and decide whether the scenario fosters a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.
Task 3: If you think that the scenario fosters a fixed mindset, then change the teacher's response to a growth mindset.
Scenario 3: Layne is taking piano lessons with Mr. Knoll his music instructor. Layne did not get to practice much over the last few weeks, because other activities took priority. Although he is interested in piano, he finds the time to practice difficult because he is involved in many other extracurricular activities. During his weekly lesson, he realizes he is not playing well and is making a lot of mistakes. He turns to Mr. Knoll and says, “I guess I am never going to be the concert pianist I once thought I’d be. I just don’t have it in me.” Mr. Layne responds by saying, “Justin, some people have it and some people don’t.
Task 4: Read the scenario above and decide whether the scenario fosters a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.
Task 5: If you think that the scenario fosters a fixed mindset, then change the teacher's response to foster a growth mindset.
Scenario 4: In a tutorial group after school, Martha joins one of the tables. The other students get quiet for a moment as she sits down, so she becomes very quiet, too. The others have their tests on the table and are talking about their mistakes, but she won’t take hers out. When she is asked questions by the tutor, she responds by saying, “I don’t know.” At the end of the tutoring session, when students can ask more questions, Martha tells the tutor that she doesn’t have any questions to ask.
Task 6: Read the scenario above and find the evidence of a fixed mindset.
Task 7: Rewrite a new scenario to convert it to growth mindset based on the information you have gained in this tutorial.
Scenario 5: Anthony’s teacher hands back a quiz that her students recently took. When Anthony receives his quiz grade, he immediately notices the A+ at the top of the paper. A student sitting behind Anthony says, “I don’t know how you do it, dude. You never get a bad grade in this class.” Anthony replies by saying, “I know, and I never even study. People in my family are naturally gifted in foreign languages.”
Task 8: Read the scenario above and find the evidence of a fixed mindset.
Task 9: Imagine that you are there as a teacher. What would you say to students to foster a growth mindset?
You can find the answers to tasks 1-9 here.
Adapted from Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House.
Scenario 6: You want to become an actor but the career advisor suggests that you may be too quiet for this. How would you react?
Scenario 7: When you go to high school you will be going to a different school from all your friends. You are very shy and don't make friends easily. What will you think and do?
Scenario 8: You have a new teacher who gives you a harder work than you are used to. What would you do?
Scenario 9: Your science score was lower than what you expected. What would you do?
Scenario 10: In P.E. lessons, you have trouble learning how to skip. What would you do?
Go to the link to listen to some students how they would react to the scenarios 6-10.
Do you think you have had enough practice?
Are you ready to test your knowledge?
Continue here to do the review activity. Remember, you can always go back and revise this tutorial.
Scenario 1: A student enters a gymnastics competition, puts in her best effort, and doesn’t win?
Task 1: What do you think her teacher told her to foster a growth mindset?
Scenario 2: Mrs. Winn is monitoring her students during independent seat work. She observes Justin getting frustrated with one of the math problems he is working on. Justin slams his pencil down, which causes Mrs. Winn to go over to him immediately. She asks Justin what it is he is struggling with and he responds, “I hate math. I am not smart enough for this kind of math.” Mrs. Winn responds by saying, “Oh yes, you are Justin!”
Task 2: Read the scenario above and decide whether the scenario fosters a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.
Task 3: If you think that the scenario fosters a fixed mindset, then change the teacher's response to a growth mindset.
Scenario 3: Layne is taking piano lessons with Mr. Knoll his music instructor. Layne did not get to practice much over the last few weeks, because other activities took priority. Although he is interested in piano, he finds the time to practice difficult because he is involved in many other extracurricular activities. During his weekly lesson, he realizes he is not playing well and is making a lot of mistakes. He turns to Mr. Knoll and says, “I guess I am never going to be the concert pianist I once thought I’d be. I just don’t have it in me.” Mr. Layne responds by saying, “Justin, some people have it and some people don’t.
Task 4: Read the scenario above and decide whether the scenario fosters a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.
Task 5: If you think that the scenario fosters a fixed mindset, then change the teacher's response to foster a growth mindset.
Scenario 4: In a tutorial group after school, Martha joins one of the tables. The other students get quiet for a moment as she sits down, so she becomes very quiet, too. The others have their tests on the table and are talking about their mistakes, but she won’t take hers out. When she is asked questions by the tutor, she responds by saying, “I don’t know.” At the end of the tutoring session, when students can ask more questions, Martha tells the tutor that she doesn’t have any questions to ask.
Task 6: Read the scenario above and find the evidence of a fixed mindset.
Task 7: Rewrite a new scenario to convert it to growth mindset based on the information you have gained in this tutorial.
Scenario 5: Anthony’s teacher hands back a quiz that her students recently took. When Anthony receives his quiz grade, he immediately notices the A+ at the top of the paper. A student sitting behind Anthony says, “I don’t know how you do it, dude. You never get a bad grade in this class.” Anthony replies by saying, “I know, and I never even study. People in my family are naturally gifted in foreign languages.”
Task 8: Read the scenario above and find the evidence of a fixed mindset.
Task 9: Imagine that you are there as a teacher. What would you say to students to foster a growth mindset?
You can find the answers to tasks 1-9 here.
Adapted from Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House.
Scenario 6: You want to become an actor but the career advisor suggests that you may be too quiet for this. How would you react?
Scenario 7: When you go to high school you will be going to a different school from all your friends. You are very shy and don't make friends easily. What will you think and do?
Scenario 8: You have a new teacher who gives you a harder work than you are used to. What would you do?
Scenario 9: Your science score was lower than what you expected. What would you do?
Scenario 10: In P.E. lessons, you have trouble learning how to skip. What would you do?
Go to the link to listen to some students how they would react to the scenarios 6-10.
Do you think you have had enough practice?
Are you ready to test your knowledge?
Continue here to do the review activity. Remember, you can always go back and revise this tutorial.
