Do your kids or students give up when something feels hard, or tell themselves "I'm just not good at this"? Developing a Growth Mindset in Kids is a Building Character workbook for ages 8 to 12 that helps kids understand the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, how their brains grow stronger with effort, and what mistakes and frustration can teach them.
This workbook is printed and shipped by Amazon. Order the paperback on Amazon.
The workbook was written by Tammy Roose, an upper elementary teacher and the creator of Tarheelstate Teacher, and is adapted from her Growth Mindset SEL Unit for upper elementary classrooms.
NOTE: This 92-page paperback is written for kids to work through on their own or alongside a parent or teacher. If you are teaching growth mindset to a whole class, the Growth Mindset SEL Unit covers the same topic with 20 days of lesson plans and Google Slides (digital download only).
Through reading passages, a two-page Mindset Thoughts Sort, frustration pages, and real-life situations, kids practice what to think and do when they feel stuck, including how to add the word "yet," how to catch an unhelpful thought and change it, and how to choose a strategy when frustration shows up.
WHY PARENTS LOVE THIS WORKBOOK
- A Variety of Engaging Activities in One Book: Reading passages, sorts, a story rewrite, an advice column, quote reflections, and creative projects like My Growth Mindset Symbol, The ABCs of a Growth Mindset, and My Growth Mindset Playlist and Album Cover.
- Kids Can Work On Their Own or With an Adult: Directions are written for kids ages 8 to 12, so they can complete the activities independently or alongside a parent, teacher, or counselor. Children can work from the first page to the last, or skip to the sections that fit what they need right now. The Growing Every Day Habit Tracker follows a monthly calendar for kids who want to track the times they kept going, tried again, or learned from a mistake.
- Start with Understanding: The workbook opens with About Growth Mindset, a page for adults on where the terms growth mindset and fixed mindset came from, followed by Tips for Promoting a Growth Mindset.
- Setting Growth Mindset Goals that Can Continue After the Workbook: A Growing Every Day Habit Tracker, a Post Reflection & Action Plan, a Weekly Goal Reflection, a Growth Mindset Choice Board, and My Commitment to a Growth Mindset help kids keep practicing growth-minded habits.
- No Right or Wrong Answers: The activities focus on reflection, discussion, and real-world application.
WHAT'S INSIDE THE GROWTH MINDSET WORKBOOK
✨ Section 1: The Power to Grow: What is a Growth Mindset?, important vocabulary, Reflecting on My Personal Mindset, My Beliefs About Mindsets, reflection prompts, How My Family Faces Challenges, and The Spark Behind Success
✨ Section 2: Two Ways of Thinking: Two Mindsets, One Brain, the Mindset Thoughts Sort, When I'm in a Fixed Mindset, When I'm in a Growth Mindset, Words That Reflect a Growth Mindset, Flip That Mindset, and What Mistakes Are Telling You
✨ Section 3: When Things Get Hard: When Frustration Shows Up, My Frustration Triggers, The Sticking Point story, What to Do When You're Stuck, What Mistakes Really Do, Famous Flops, The Stuck Spot Advice Column, and 10,000 Ways
✨ Section 4: The Voice Inside Your Head: The Power of "Yet," Alex and the Math Test, Growth Mindset Story Rewrite, Catch It, Change It, Growth Mindset Affirmations, The ABCs of a Growth Mindset, My Growth Mindset Symbol, and The Way You Talk to You
✨ Section 5: Mindset In Action: Responding with a Growth-Minded Attitude, Mindset Flags, Growth Mindset in Action: Who Inspires You?, How Growth Mindset Improves Our Life Experience, My Mindset Challenge, and When You Know Better
✨ Section 6: Growing From Here: Personal Growth Mindset Post Reflection & Action Plan, What Would You Do If You Knew You Would Not Fail?, My Growth Mindset Playlist, My Growth Mindset Album Cover, the Growing Every Day Habit Tracker, a Growth Mindset Choice Board, and My Commitment to a Growth Mindset
✨ Appendix: Recommended picture books about growth mindset and reproducible templates
Facing a challenge isn't always easy, especially when a mistake feels like proof that you can't do something. Developing a Growth Mindset in Kids helps kids handle frustration, learn from their mistakes, and keep trying when something is hard.
THIS WORKBOOK IS PERFECT FOR
- Parents and caregivers supporting social emotional learning at home
- Teachers and school counselors leading character education lessons
- Homeschool families and after-school programs
CASEL STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Self-Awareness
- Having a growth mindset
- Identifying one’s emotions
- Experiencing self-efficacy
Self-Management
- Managing one’s emotions
- Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
- Setting personal and collective goals
Social Awareness
- Recognizing strengths in others
Relationship Skills
- Seeking or offering support and help when needed
Responsible Decision-Making
- Identifying solutions for personal and social problems
MORE BUILDING CHARACTER WORKBOOKS
Each workbook in the series follows a similar layout, so kids know what to expect from one topic to the next:
- Telling the Truth & Integrity
- Empathy & Caring About Others
- Being & Getting Motivated
- Being Yourself
- Having Courage
- Making & Keeping Friends
- Setting Goals
- Showing Responsibility & Making Good Choices
- Growing in Gratitude
- Conflict Resolution
BOOK DETAILS
- Paperback, 92 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches
- Ages 8 to 12 (grades 3 to 6)
- Author: Tammy Roose
- Publisher: Tarheelstate Teacher Publishing
- ISBN: 978-1968882136
- Available on Amazon: order the paperback here
Copyright © Tammy Roose, Tarheelstate Teacher LLC. The purchase of this workbook gives the buyer permission to reproduce pages for single classroom, home, or small group use only.
