Here are some easy questions to ask your students about growth mindset, categorized for clarity:

Understanding Challenges & Effort:

• What's something you found a little tricky to do today? (e.g., tying shoes, a puzzle, a game)

• What did you do when it felt a little tricky?

• Did you keep trying, or did you give up right away?

• How did it feel when you kept trying, even if it was hard?

• What's something you've learned to do that used to be hard? (e.g., riding a bike, counting, writing your name)

• What did you have to do to learn that hard thing?

Learning & Growing:

• What's something new you learned today?

• How do our brains grow? (You can use an analogy like a muscle getting stronger!)

• What happens when we make a mistake? Is it a bad thing, or can it help us learn?

• What can we learn from our mistakes?

• If you don't get something right the first time, what can you do next?

• Who is someone you know who keeps trying even when things are hard? What do they do?

Persistence & Belief in Themselves:

• What's something you're really good at now that you weren't good at before?

• How did you get good at it?

• What happens if you say "I can't do it"?

• What happens if you say "I can try!" or "I can learn how"?

• What's a time you felt proud because you kept trying something?

• If you're having trouble with something, who can help you?

Bonus - Open-Ended & Reflective:

• What's something you're excited to learn or get better at?

• If you could give advice to a friend who was feeling frustrated, what would you tell them?

• What's your favorite thing about learning new things?

Tips for Asking:

• Keep it simple: Use clear, child-friendly language.

• Be encouraging: Praise effort and persistence, not just the outcome.

• Use real-life examples: Connect to their experiences (e.g., "Remember when you were learning to zip your coat?").

• Make it a conversation: Listen to their answers and ask follow-up questions.

• Model growth mindset yourself: Talk about your own challenges and how you overcome them.