Growth Mindset Small Group Activities For School Counseling
Small group counseling is an important role of a school counselor. There are many different topics that a small group could focus on, but today we are going to talk about activities for your growth mindset small groups.
If you haven’t heard of a “growth mindset,” it is a term coined by Dr. Carol Dweck to describe a belief that intelligence is not fixed - that we can learn and grow through effort, perseverance and challenges. On the other hand, a “fixed mindset” - also coined by Dr. Dweck - is the belief that your intelligence is set in stone, you either can do something or you can’t. When students begin to develop a growth mindset, they are more likely to put in more effort, stick with tasks, and work through challenges, which can lead to increased achievement.
Talking about growth mindset in a small group format is perfect because you will have the opportunity to explore the ideas of a growth mindset with lessons that build on one another, and allow students to experience challenges and failure in a safe space. Here are some simple counseling activities to include in your next growth mindset small group.
1) Explain the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset
In order for students to embody a growth mindset, they need to know what it is. They also need to know what it’s not. By explaining the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset and giving students examples of each concept, you will increase students’ familiarity with the terminology and their ability to identify whether they have a growth or fixed mindset. To do this, you can give different examples and ask students to decide whether they describe a growth mindset or a fixed mindset. To expand the students’ learning even more, you can ask them to come up with different examples for each mindset.
2) Explain the science behind the growth mindset concept
While the terminology of a growth mindset is relatively new in education, it is more than just a buzzword, it is a phenomenon that is backed by neuroscience. Explaining how the brain works to create new and stronger neuron connections helps students realize that working through challenges is actually worth it. I love this quick Khan Academy video that clearly explains the science behind the growth mindset concept. Not only will students enjoy learning about neuroplasticity, but they will feel empowered to make their brains stronger.
3) Teach students strategies for perseverance
Teaching about having a growth mindset often comes with the encouragement to persevere. While this is a worthy goal, we have to remember that the default for many of our students is to give up when things get challenging. That’s why it is important to go beyond saying “just keep trying!” and actually teach them strategies that they can use. The small group setting is a perfect place to teach students perseverance strategies such as asking for help, taking a break and using positive self talk.
4) Give kids opportunities to practice using a growth mindset
Like all skills, students actually need to practice using a growth mindset in order to truly master it. Counseling small groups are a great place to set up low-risk exercises to help students become more comfortable with struggling and even failing. Set up activities such as brain teasers, riddles, and even STEM challenges to encourage students to persevere and to give them practice using the strategies they have learned. Although this may be uncomfortable for students (I once had a 5th grade boy crying in the corner because he couldn’t figure out a riddle), it is the perfect opportunity to help them put their strategies into practice in a safe environment.
Growth mindset small groups provide a great way to teach students about what a growth mindset is and to provide opportunities for students to practice using a growth mindset. With these 4 simple components, your growth mindset small group is sure to be engaging and effective!
If you are running a growth mindset small group but still aren’t sure where to start, or just don’t have time to plan, grab my 6 session, no-prep growth mindset small group that I’ve already created for you! It has 6 no-prep lessons that cover the topics from above, as well as 2 bonus activities and a self-assessment for data collection. This small group plan is a great way to make sure your students are receiving quality instruction without sacrificing any plan time!
