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ClassDojo and Stanford's PERTS Research Center teamed up to create the the first season of The Mojo Show. The five-episode video series (along with a few incredible activities) highlight the power of having a growth mindset, and how any student can learn this skill!

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ClassDojo and Stanford's PERTS Research Center teamed up to create the the first season of The Mojo Show. The five-episode video series (along with a few incredible activities) highlight the power of having a growth mindset, and how any student can learn this skill!

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Character Lab is a nonprofit organization that advances scientific insights to help kids thrive. We provide actionable advice for parents and educators.

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Increased Achievement

Our Growth Mindset and SEL Programs have been proven to increase test scores.

Self-Motivated Teachers & Students

The understanding of malleable intelligence and enhanced SEL skills drives motivation for all.

Growth Mindset Culture

Teachers and students strive for continuous improvement and growth.

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Growth Mindset Free Resources | MindsetWorks

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Brainology is an online interactive program in which middle school students learn about how the brain works, how to strengthen their own brains, and how to better approach their own learning. In the process they develop a growth mindset whereby they think of their intelligence as something they can develop through study and learning rather than as something fixed, as explained by our co-founder Dr. Carol Dweck.

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Understood - For Learning and Thinking Differences

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Understood.org is the resource that helps the 70 million people with learning and thinking differences anticipate the challenges, barriers, or opportunities in life and confidently reach their potential.

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The Mindset Kit is a free set of online lessons and practices designed to help you teach and foster adaptive beliefs about learning.

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Mindset Kit - Resources for growth and learning mindsets

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A free resource for educators and parents who want to foster learning mindsets such as growth mindset. Follow lessons and practices from experts and members of our community.

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The Power of belief -- mindset and success | Eduardo Briceno | TEDxManhattanBeach

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The power of yet | Carol S Dweck | TEDxNorrköping

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Grit: The power of passion & perseverance

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Grit: The power of passion & perseverance

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Grit: The power of passion and perseverance

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Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success.

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From the renowned psychologist who introduced the world to "growth mindset" comes this updated edition of the million-copy bestseller-featuring transformative insights into redefining success, building lifelong resilience, and supercharging self-improvement. reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment.

"Through clever research studies and engaging writing, Dweck illuminates how our beliefs about our capabilities exert tremendous influence on how we learn and which paths we take in life."-Bill Gates, GatesNotes "It's not always the people who start out the smartest who end up the smartest."

After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset -those who believe that abilities are fixed-are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset -those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset

In this edition, Dweck offers new insights into her now famous and broadly embraced concept. She introduces a phenomenon she calls false growth mindset and guides people toward adopting a deeper, truer growth mindset. She also expands the mindset concept beyond the individual, applying it to the cultures of groups and organizations. With the right mindset, you can motivate those you lead, teach, and love-to transform their lives and your own.

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Mindset: The New Psychology of Success [Dweck, Carol S.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

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Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

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Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

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One of "The Hottest Spring Nonfiction Books"delves into the personal ingredients of great success. It's worth reading...the gist is that talent and skill are less valuable than effort."is a pop-psych smash.", Duckworth has now put out the definitive handbook for her theory of success. It parades from one essential topic to another on a float of common sense, tossing out scientific insights."] are the testimonials, collected from sources as disparate as Will Smith, William James, and Jeff Bezos's mom, that relentlessly deflate the myth of the natural."is the way she is pulling away from the narrow, joyless intonations of that word, and pointing us beyond the way many schools are now teaching it...Most important, she notes that the quality of our longing matters. Gritty people are resilient and hard working, sure. But they also, she writes, know in a very, very deep way what it is they want." is packed with great lessons. The tools and gems I took from this book aided me in being able to handle the adversity of my career coming to an unexpected end and finding my passion in writing."is great. It's a lucid, informative, and entertaining review of the research Angela has assiduously conducted over the past decade or so. The book also includes suggestions on how to develop grit, and how we can help support grit in others. There are few people who wouldn't learn something from this book."is a useful guide for parents or teachers looking for confirmation that passion and persistence matter, and for inspiring models of how to cultivate these important qualities."is an essential-and perhaps life-changing-read." is a persuasive and fascinating response to the cult of IQ fundamentalism. Duckworth reminds us that it is character and perseverance that set the successful apart."scrubs away preconceptions about how far our potential can take us."is destined to be a classic in the literature of success.", you won't be able to tear yourself away."teaches that life's high peaks aren't necessarily conquered by the naturally nimble but, rather, by those willing to endure, wait out the storm, and try again." is a national treasure." offers a truly sane perspective: that true success comes when we devote ourselves to endeavors that give us joy and purpose."will inspire everyone who reads it to stick to something hard that they have a passion for." takes on widespread misconceptions and predictors of what makes us strive harder and push further...Duckworth's own story, wound throughout her research, ends up demonstrating her theory best; passion and perseverance make up grit."delivers! Angela Duckworth shares the stories, the science, and the positivity behind sustained success...A must-read."
-The Wall Street Journal Grit -Andrew Ross Sorkin,
The New York Times -People Grit -The New Yorker Grit -Slate grit
, Duckworth is the reason...In education and parenting circles, her research has provided a much needed antipode to hovering , by which children are systematically deprived of the opportunity to experience setbacks, much less overcome them...What sticks with you [in Grit
-The Atlantic -The Wall Street Journal

"If you have recently bumped into that word, Grit, -David Brooks, New York Times Grit -Chris Bosh, five-time NBA All Star Grit -
Scientific American (blog) -Publishers Weekly Grit

"Duckworth is the researcher most associated with the study and popularization of grit. And yet what I like about her new book, -The Washington Post -Kirkus Reviews
-Booklist - Philly.com Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness -The Toronto Star

Grit -Daniel H. Pink, New York Times-
bestselling author of When, Drive, and To Sell Is Human Grit - Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and
Outliers -Judith Shulevitz, The New York Times Book Review Grit - Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed Grit - Dan Heath, co-author of Made to Stick

"A contemporary classic-a clarifying and deeply-researched book in the tradition of Stephen Covey and Carol Dweck. For anyone hoping to work smarter or live better, , Switch
, and Decisive Grit - Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor and author of Presence Grit - Ed Viesturs, Seven-Time Climber of Mount Everest and author of No Shortcuts to the Top - Amanda Ripley, author of The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way
Grit - Lawrence H. Summers, Former Secretary of the Treasury and President Emeritus at Harvard University Grit - Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive - Brad Stevens, Coach of the Boston Celtics Soledad O'Brien, Chairman of Starfish MediaGroup and former co-anchor of CNN's "American Morning" Grit

"Impressively fresh and original... Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy
- Sonja Lyubomirsky, Professor, University of California, Riverside and author of The How of Happiness Josh Waitzkin, International Chess Master, Tai Chi Push Hands World Champion, and author of The Art of Learning Grit Tory Burch, Chairman, CEO and Designer of Tory Burch Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why

"This book will change your life. Fascinating, rigorous, and practical, and Leaders Eat Last
-David Shenk, author of The Genius in All of Us: New Insights into Genetics, Talent, and IQ -Robert D. Putnam, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids - Joel Klein, former Chancellor, New York City public schools Grit - Barbara Fredrickson, author of Positivity and

"Utterly captivating, inspiring and original...Once you pick up Love 2.0 and President of the International Positive Psychology Association

"Readable, compelling and totally persuasive. The ideas in this book have the potential to transform education, management and the way its readers live. Angela Duckworth's

"Invaluable...In a world where access to knowledge is unprecedented, this book describes the key trait of those who will optimally take advantage of it.
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"A thoughtful and engaging exploration of what predicts success.
-

"An important book...In these pages, the leading scholarly expert on the power of grit (what my mom called 'stick-to-it-iveness') carries her message to a wider audience, using apt anecdotes and aphorisms to illustrate how we can usefully apply her insights to our own lives and those of our kids.

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Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

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Buy Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

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Annie Brock (Author), Heather Hundley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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The Growth Mindset Coach: A Teacher’s Month-by-Month Handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve (Growth Mindset for Teachers)

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The Growth Mindset Coach: A Teacher’s Month-by-Month Handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve (Growth Mindset for Teachers) - Kindle edition by Brock, Annie, Hundley, Heather. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Growth Mindset Coach: A Teacher’s Month-by-Month Handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve (Growth Mindset for Teachers).

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Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

Find information about growth mindset, discover how learning mindsets can affect student performance, and explore strategies that support student confidence.

Understanding Growth Mindset

Strategies for Addressing Mindsets

Embracing Failure: Building a Growth Mindset Through the Arts: Learn how educators at New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico teach students how to integrate critical feedback. (Edutopia, 2016)

Nurturing Intrinsic Motivation and Growth Mindset in Writing: Review tips from a high school English instructor about how to conduct better conferences with students; take a look at specific examples of process praise and feedback that can encourage autonomy, purpose, and choice. (Edutopia, 2014)

Praising the Process: Watch this video of a writing workshop from a first grade classroom to see how to use process praise to encourage a growth mindset. (Teaching Channel, 2015)

Using Praise to Enhance Student Resilience and Learning Outcomes: Explore Do's and Don'ts, FAQs, and other information about how to use feedback to alter student mindsets. (American Psychological Association)

The Secret to Raising Smart Kids: Read an article authored by growth-mindset researcher Carol Dweck about research into growth mindset, and learn how to give valuable feedback by focusing on the specific process a child used to accomplish something; at the end of the article, there are several useful examples of effective praise. (Scientific American, 2015)

Growth Mindset Within Math

Giving Better Student Feedback

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Find information about growth mindset, discover how learning mindsets can affect student performance, and explore strategies that support student confidence.

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By Margaret Wilson, Great Minds I once taught a kindergarten student who was convinced he couldn’t succeed at school tasks. During the first few weeks of school, even the simplest assignment could lea

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Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

Students need the tools to deal with adversity. Here's how teachers can help.

Michael Austin / theispot.com

For many children, the past year brought disruption on a grand scale, with the pandemic affecting virtually every aspect of their daily lives. And while "caregivers can't always alter children's circumstances or shield them from discomfort, they can offer a more enduring gift: tools to manage adversity," writes therapist and school counselor Phyllis L. Fagell for The Washington Post.

But it's clear that educators also play an essential role in helping children develop the determination and ability to persevere through difficult circumstances in school and life-this year, and anytime.

When educators help students "cultivate an approach to life that views obstacles as a critical part of success, we help them develop resilience," writes Marilyn Price-Mitchell, a developmental psychologist and author. "Resilience is not a genetic trait. It is derived from the ways that children learn to think and act when faced with obstacles large and small." When the adults in children's lives-caregivers, teachers, coaches-help young people develop resilience, it helps them "emerge from challenging experiences with a positive sense of themselves and their futures," says Price-Mitchell.

It's a skill that takes practice. "Resilience works like a muscle we can build through effort and repetition, and we want to keep our muscles strong and flexible so we can think of many ways to solve a problem," Mary Alvord, a psychologist and author, tells Fagell. "At the core, resilience is the belief that while you can't control everything in your life, there are many aspects you can control, including your attitude."

Here are five strategies, some recommended by Fagell and a few sourced from our Edutopia content, for helping students build the vital capacity for resilience.

Set Brave Goals

A big part of developing resilience involves being able to identify personal goals, and then being able to "tolerate the discomfort that's creating resistance toward that goal," psychologist Ryan C.T. DeLapp tells Fagell. This year, a brave goal might involve asking students to contemplate the camera-on/camera-off dilemma, exploring how it impacts their personal and academic growth. "Is not being on camera interfering with your academics, or likely to make it harder for you to be visual socially when the pandemic ends?" asks DeLapp. "That represents an opportunity for a brave goal."

Many educators use a SMART framework to help students set personal goals that are: specific; measurable; attainable; relevant; and timely. "It's not easy to write SMART goals," writes Maurice J. Elias, a professor in the psychology department at Rutgers University. "This skill takes time to develop, and it's especially important to have in place for students at the secondary level."

A vague goal, Elias writes, might look like this: "I will do better on my next report card." But a more productive goal-one that's a good mix of ambitious yet achievable-might look like this: "In the next marking period, I will take careful notes and review them at least two days before tests and quizzes so that I can ask the teacher questions about what I don't understand. I will do my math homework before I do things with friends, and when I hand it in, I will ask the teacher about anything I am not sure about. When I get anything wrong, I will make sure to ask the teacher, or one of my classmates how they got the right answer."

Once a child meets a goal, it's especially important to celebrate the achievement, notes DeLapp. "Make time to reflect on progress toward their brave goal, and express gratitude and excitement when they meet them," Fagell advises.

Model Learning from Mistakes

Learning from failure "is paramount to becoming a resilient young person," writes Price-Mitchell. Teachers can help by creating a classroom where "failure, setbacks, and disappointment are an expected and honored part of learning," where students are "praised for their hard work, perseverance, and grit, not just for grades and easy successes," and where they are held accountable for producing work about which they feel "ownership and internal reward."

Consider creating a classroom bulletin board where, in addition to showcasing students' achievements, "students can brag about their biggest mistakes and what they learned from them," wrote educational consultant and author, Richard Curwin. "Be sure to tell the class about your own mistakes, especially if they are funny, and what you learned from them," wrote Curwin, who died in 2018. Give students opportunities to correct mistakes and resubmit work and be sure to recognize when their work improves because "nothing shows learning from mistakes more than improvement," Curwin noted.

Or you can explicitly label some activities "rough-draft thinking" suggest math professor Amanda Jansen and her co-authors in a 2017 study, giving students "permission to ask questions, make mistakes, and then revise without the stifling prospect of failure."

Encourage Responsible Risks

High school special education teacher Daniel Vollrath likens resilience to a stress ball. "A stress ball is resilient because it springs back to its original shape after being squeezed," Vollrath writes. "Likewise, when students experience stress or frustration, we can think of that as pressure on them that they need to spring back from. The hope in presenting them with strategies to build resilience is that those strategies will ease the frustration and help them get back into optimal and productive focus for learning."

One way to foster resilience is to recognize and compliment students when they take responsible risks and challenge themselves-even and maybe especially when they don't achieve the desired results. For example, speaking up to answer a question during a Zoom class, even if the answer is incorrect, or "stumbling on words while reading out loud," writes Vollrath. "These are opportunities to build confidence, and risk-taking, and most importantly, to keep a resilient momentum going forward while in a safe space."

Label Difficult Emotions

Recognizing and naming emotions, from elementary school through high school, can help students "become self-aware and begin to manage their own emotional states effectively-psychologists call this labeling," writes Jorge Valenzuela, an education coach and adjunct professor at Old Dominion University. Once students learn to notice, name, and interpret their emotions, they are better prepared to make rational decisions and manage disorienting or disruptive emotions in their lives-critical elements of resilience.

A good place to start in the classroom is with quick daily emotional check-ins. Valenzuela lays the groundwork for these at the beginning of the year, using Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions to teach students the words they can use to describe the emotions they're feeling-with varying degrees of complexity based on grade level. "I find that [the emotion wheel] helps them categorize their emotions and their responses to those emotions," Valenzuela writes. "Additionally, students can recognize that other emotions are an amalgamation of the eight basic emotions or are derived from one or more of them. This is a very powerful realization for them-it serves to help them identify emotional triggers and begin planning to respond with good self-management strategies."

Write and Talk About Setbacks and Human Resilience

In middle and high school, writing assignments that focus on "sources of personal strength" can help kids explore different ways to build resilience, writes Price-Mitchell, who provides a few prompts to get started: "Write about a person who supported you during a particularly stressful or traumatic time. How did they help you overcome this challenge? What did you learn about yourself?" Another idea: "Write about a time in your life when you had to cope with a difficult situation. What helped and hindered you as you overcame this challenge? What learning did you take away that will help you in the future?"

But the topic of resilience isn't bound to one class-ELA, for example-it's relevant across the curriculum. "Opportunities abound to connect resilience with personal success, achievement, and positive social change," Price-Mitchell notes. "Expand discussions about political leaders, scientists, literary figures, innovators, and inventors beyond what they accomplished to the personal strengths they possess, and the hardships they endured and overcame to reach their goals. Help students learn to see themselves and their own strengths through these success stories."

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Students need the tools to deal with adversity. Here's how teachers can help.

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James Nottingham's Learning Challenge (Learning Pit) animation