If I had to guess, I would bet that you have a can of WD-40 in your garage. Did you know that WD-40 stands for water displacement on the 40th try? Imagine if they had stopped after a few tries, or even after 39? What if Dr. Chris Barnard gave up on the idea of successful heart transplants?

Our world is a better place because of the resilience and perseverance of so many scientists, researchers, inventors, and everyday people who refused to give up. Let’s teach our students to do the same.

 Introduce students to the idea that they are truly the master of their own making.

To inspire the idea that this can work for them, share examples of people who have succeeded with this same mindset. Athletes and/or persons who have overcome adversity can be a great source of motivation for young people. Imagine if Michael Phelps never practiced; he just stuck with the status quo. Would he have continued to break records? What if Michael Jordan gave up when he was cut from his high school basketball team?

We must teach our students to persevere, to keep trying, and to know that focused practice does make a difference.

Talk through your own thought process when solving a problem or setting a goal as a way of modeling your own growth.

Have students brainstorm solutions and ideas for practicing a certain skill. Remind students that the process is just as important as (if not more important than) the product. The mistakes and confusion are where the magic happens!

Instilling a growth mindset in a classroom takes time and requires multiple avenues but it is worth the results the students will experience.