Social Emotional

Word of the Month

Growth Mindset -

The belief that your abilities can be developed

through hard work

One of our Social and Emotional words of the month is Growth Mindset. Growth Mindset is the belief that your abilities can be developed through hard work. I think this is the perfect message we want to send to staff, students, and families. This year there will be change from previous years, but with a positive attitude that we can learn how to adapt to our change will be much more beneficial then going into this year thinking that we are going to fail and this year is going to be terrible. We don't know that and with a positive attitude we are much more likely going to have those successes.

How can you overcome a big obstacle? - READ ABOUT IT!

It's so easy to give up or take the easy way out. Find something new that may be challenging to you. Make sure it's not too hard. Set a goal of accomplishing that skill or task and brainstorm ways on how you will get there!

Books to help develop this include:

After The Fall by Dan Santat

  • thoughtfully speaks to getting up after a “fall” or trauma and facing your fears.

  • Activity: Pair with your favorite team activity like the marshmallow tower challenge

Leo the Lightning Bug by Eric Drachman

  • A great way to help young students understand perseverance and growth mindset. Poor little Leo, all his fellow lightning bugs have found their light, but he has not yet!

  • Activity: Have students complete activity in patience

Perfectly Messed Up Story by Patrick McDonnell

  • In this book, the main character is trying to write a story and it keeps getting messed up. The character experiences many emotions, such as confusion, anger, and sadness, but does not give up.

  • Activity: Have students complete coloring page from the book

Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

  • A hilarious play on the classic Three Little Pigs, this story is about three ninjas that need to stop a bully.

  • Activity: Have students create their own Perseverance Pig, with goals included.

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

  • This story follows an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. “She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.


How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers

  • In this inspirational story, a young stargazer wishes to catch a star of his very own. Despite his many creative attempts, he learns in the end that sometimes having your dreams come true requires a little flexibility. A great story for encouraging kids to dream big and never give up.


Practice it -

Together with your child, talk about encouraging messages that you can send yourself when something is challenging. Write these messages down on sticky notes or note cards, and place them where your child will see them, such as a mirror, their school folder, their locker, etc.


Talk About It -

Here are some discussion points to help you talk about growth mindset with your child:

  • What is a growth mindset and why do you think it's important?

  • What do you do when something is challenging for you?

  • What is something that you want to get better at? What steps can you take to get better at it? How can I help you?

  • Are you afraid of making mistakes? Why or why not?

  • What is something you can tell yourself if something is challenging for you or if you have made a mistake?