Positive Affirmations in the Classroom for Developing a Growth Mindset

Like adults, children can feel unmotivated and discouraged about their work and their abilities. This may look like sulking, aggression, and distracting others when attempting something challenging. Teachers need to be aware of student behaviors and understand why they are happening. If you notice that every time a student has to complete a challenging task, he or she lacks enthusiasm or their behavior suggests discomfort or anger, try talking to the student. Ask questions like:

• How does this new challenge make you feel?

• Do you like this activity?

• Would you like me to help you with something?

Understanding why the student feels this way is the first step toward developing a growth mindset.

Before class, ask students to repeat positive affirmations or say kind things about themselves as they are taught to say kind things to others. How you feel about your abilities often determines the level of effort you put into doing something. If I don't think that I could read, what would be the point of trying to read? This is an example of a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is easily developed and can be maintained throughout adolescence into adulthood. When students have a growth mindset, they do not focus on their inability but rather seek improvement because they believe that they can achieve anything they set out to do. This is the kind of mindset that creates well-rounded adults.

Here are 10 affirmations that students can repeat daily to foster a growth mindset:

1. I am amazing. There is nothing I cannot achieve.

2. A setback is simply a pause in my journey. As the journey continues I will work harder.

3. I am grateful for my mistakes because I can learn a lot from them.

4. I am strong and brave even when it doesn't feel that way.

5. I have removed 'can't' from my vocabulary because I CAN.

6. I am a good person and I love myself.

7. I have tried and tried. Tomorrow, I will try again.

8. With hard work and dedication, my skills can improve.

9. I believe in courage, not fear.

10. There is nothing I cannot do, there are only things I have not done.

These affirmations can be adjusted according to the ages of the students in your class. For younger students, I love to play this video below in the morning so that they can sing, dance, and mentally prepare themselves for the day.

This video is by Sandz Academy. I do not own the rights to this song.

Positive affirmations can truly make a difference in student participation and achievement. Teachers should include them in their daily plans as they can reap many benefits. Send me an email at lyricallyneise@gmail.com or leave a comment if you use affirmations in your classroom.

Happy Teaching!