This month, I am working with my 5th grade students on developing a Growth Mindset.  They are learning the value of working through problems, persisting through mistakes, learning from failures, and demonstrating an open-mindedness toward lifelong learning and continuous improvement.

Today, we did a fun activity where the kids were challenged to build a tower with wooden blocks–using only chopsticks (no hands!). The task was intentionally difficult, but using teamwork and a growth mindset, the kids were challenged to persist until they completed the task.  Initial failures happened, goals were ultimately achieved, hilarity ensued and a good time was had by all.