How to change your mindset process based on research by Carol Dweck. Created for the DLL program at Lamar University.

1. MISTAKES MEAN YOU
ARE BEING CHALLENGED
COMMITMENT AND
EFFORT ARE KEY
FEEDBACK IS
INFORMATIVE
SUCCESS IS ABOUT
LEARNING
“Growth mindset is
based on the belief
that your basic
qualities are things
you can cultivate
through your
efforts.”
(Dweck, 2008)

2. HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MINDSET
FROM FIXED TO GROWTH
STEP 1
LEARN TO HEAR
YOUR FIXED
MINDSET
“VOICE.”
STEP 2
RECOGNIZE THAT
YOU HAVE A
CHOICE.
STEP 3
TALK BACK TO IT
WITH A GROWTH
MINDSET VOICE.
STEP 4
TAKE THE
GROWTH
MINDSET ACTION.
(Dweck, 2006)

3. STEP 1
LEARN TO HEAR
YOUR FIXED
MINDSET “VOICE.”
(Dweck, 2006)

4. WHAT DOES A FIXED
MINDSET VOICE SOUND
LIKE?
Doubtful:
๏ “Can this even be done?”
๏ “Am I qualified to do this?”
๏ “This can’t be right?”
๏ “Should I just give up?”
Scared:
๏ “This is just too hard.”
๏ “But, I don’t know how.”
๏ “Someone else is better.”
๏ “I don’t have the talent.”
Anxious:
๏ “What will others think?”
๏ “What if I fail, then what?”
๏ “What if I’m not enough?”
๏ “This is too much!”
Makes Excuses:
๏ “I am just a failure.”
๏ “Nobody helped me.”
๏ “What a waste of time”
๏ “They just don’t like me.”

5. STEP 2
RECOGNIZE THAT
YOU HAVE A
CHOICE.
(Dweck, 2006)

6. LEARN HOW
YOU HAVE A CHOICE
25%
“NOT YET”
75%
“ALMOST”
100%
“GOT IT”
๏ Learning new things takes time.
๏ Think about where you started, reflect on your
challenges, the strategies you have used and what
you have learned so far.
๏ Choose to appreciate the effort they you have put
forth, even if you may not have reached your goal
“yet”.
๏ Focus on putting forth consistent effort and enjoy the
journey.
YOUR BRAIN
IS MALLEABLE
“With practice, neural networks
grow new connections,
strengthen existing ones, and
build insulation that speeds
transmission of impulses.”
(Mindset Works, 2017)

7. STEP 3
TALK BACK TO IT
WITH A GROWTH
MINDSET VOICE.
(Dweck, 2006)

8. WHAT WOULD A
GROWTH MINDSET VOICE SAY?
INSTEAD OF:
“I CAN’T.”
TELL YOURSELF:
“This is hard, what
strategies should I try
instead?”
INSTEAD OF:
“WHY BOTHER”
TELL YOURSELF:
“What can I learn from
trying this? ”
INSTEAD OF:
“THIS ISN’T
WORKING.”
TELL YOURSELF:
“What else can I try?”
INSTEAD OF:
“I’M SO SMART.”
TELL YOURSELF:
“My effort is starting to
pay off!”
INSTEAD OF:
“HOW COULD
THEY SAY THAT!”
TELL YOURSELF:
“What can I learn from
this feedback?”
INSTEAD OF:
“I FAILED.”
TELL YOURSELF:
“Well, that didn’t work,
what can I learn from
this setback?”

9. STEP 4
TAKE THE
GROWTH MINDSET
ACTION.
(Dweck, 2006)

10. ๏ Take action to change your mindset from fixed to growth.
๏ Consider how you can apply a growth mindset to multiple aspects of your life.
๏ Don’t give up if at times it feels harder to keep a growth mindset. Instead reflect on your experience and
learn from it.
๏ Build growth mindset into your daily actions.
๏ Share what you are learning with others.
“CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED”
KEEP GOING
KEEP GROWING

11. TEACHER
GROWTH MINDSET PLAN
Explicitly teach students
about growth mindset at
the start of the year.
Define how a growth
mindset will “look” “sound”
and “feel” in their
classroom as related to
their content.
Set up a rich learning
environment with artifacts
and anchor charts related
to the growth mindset.
Reflect and evaluate the
effectiveness of their
actions.
TEACHERS WILL: TEACHERS WILL: TEACHERS WILL:
Create a growth focused
environment through the
use of language (“yet”)
and timely feedback.
Allow students time to
reflect on their progress in
a manner that is
appropriate to the course
and individual learner.
Model a growth mindset
and how to overcome
moments that might
prompt a fixed mindset.
DAILY /
WEEKLY
MONTHLY/
QUARTERLY
ANNUALLY
Reflect and evaluate the
effectiveness of their
actions.
Refine their methods and
actions.
Share individualized
feedback with students
who struggle with
overcoming a fixed
mindset.
Gather and plan how to
share additional growth
resources and strategies
with students.
TEACHER
RESOURCES
THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES ARE
SUGGESTIONS AND EXAMPLES
FOR CLASSROOM USE:
Sample Lesson & Handout
Google Folder
Khan Academy Growth Minutes
Lessons
Mindset Works
James Anderson’s mindset
poster
Micheal Jordan “Become
Legendary” Commercial
#4 (my favorite)

12. CAMPUS LEADER
GROWTH MINDSET PLAN
Lead professional development
at the start of the year that
explicitly teaches faculty about
growth mindset.
Define how a growth mindset
will “look” “sound” and “feel” as
part of campus-wide culture.
Provide teachers with time and
initial resources to plan how
they will implement growth
strategies into their content.
Reflect and evaluate the
effectiveness of campus
actions.
LEADERS WILL: LEADERS WILL: LEADERS WILL:
Create a growth focused
environment on campus
through the use of
language (“yet”) and timely
feedback.
Encourage teachers and
students to reflect on their
progress in a manner that
is appropriate to the
classroom and individual
learner.
Model a growth mindset
and how to overcome
moments that might
prompt a fixed mindset.
DAILY /
WEEKLY
MONTHLY/
QUARTERLY
ANNUALLY
Reflect and evaluate the
effectiveness of teacher
actions.
Provide teachers with
feedback to help refine
classroom methods and
actions.
Share individualized feedback
with teachers who struggle
with overcoming a fixed
mindset.
Gather and plan how to share
additional growth resources
and strategies with teachers.
CAMPUS
LEADER
RESOURCES
THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES ARE
SUGGESTIONS AND EXAMPLES
FOR CAMPUS USE:
Mindset Carol Dweck
Attribution Retraining: previous
work with Growth Mindset
Sample Lesson & Handout
Google Folder
Khan Academy Growth Minutes
Lessons
Mindset Works
James Anderson’s mindset
poster

13. REFERENCES
Arias, J. (Director). (2018). Routine [Motion picture on Student Film]. United States: IDEA College Preparatory Donna.
Decades of Scientific Research that Started a Growth Mindset Revolution. (2017). Retrieved January 30, 2019, from https://
www.mindsetworks.com/Science/Default
Dweck, C. (n.d.). MINDSET. Retrieved January 30, 2019, from http://mindsetonline.com/changeyourmindset/firststeps/index.html
Dweck, C. S. (2008). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York, NY: Ballantine Books Trade Paperback Edition.
Growth Mindset | LearnStorm. (n.d.). Retrieved January 30, 2019, from https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/
learnstorm-growth-mindset-activities-us
Saphier, J., Haley-Speca, M. A., & Gower, R. R. (2008). The skillful teacher: Building your teaching skills. Acton, MA: Research
for Better Teaching.
Sentis. (2012, November 06). Neuroplasticity. Retrieved January 30, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ELpfYCZa87g