Picture Books to Promote a Growth Mindset in Your Classroom
Take a moment to dream about doing something you always wanted to master.
Maybe you want to write a book, develop an online course, or learn to ski. Now acknowledge the self-doubt that may start to cloud your dreams. Visualize yourself crumpling up those doubts and then throw them away.
That is the first step in developing a growth mindset.
Challenge yourself and your students to work hard for something you want. Create a classroom vision board, sharing everyone’s hopes and dreams. Visit the board regularly throughout the year to check in and see what everyone is doing to make their dreams come true. The children will appreciate hearing about everyone’s struggles, even yours, as they work towards success.
Here are some books and suggested resources to help your students develop a growth mindset in the new year:
Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
Young Patricia Polacco never doubted that she would learn to read one day, but she did wonder why reading was so hard. Mr. Falker, her teacher, discovered why; Polacco had dyslexia. With her growth mindset, Polacco worked diligently with Falker and a reading specialist to learn how to read.
We can celebrate Polacco's achievements in perseverance and growth mindset whenever we read her books.
Students will practice inferring and making connections with lesson plans and teaching resources for use with Thank You, Mr. Falker.
Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant
Louis Braille lost his sight in an accident when he was a young boy, but that did not stop him from wanting to learn how to read and write.
Braille attended the Royal Institute for Blind Youth where he wanted to make reading and writing easier for people without sight. He adapted a system based on code used by the military. Braille's work continues to make a difference in the lives of many people who cannot see.
Pair Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille with the picture book The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin so children can feel words written with Braille.
Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews shares his story of passion-driven personalized learning in this beautiful picture book illustrated by Bryan Collier.
Trombone Shorty loved music as a child, and he created tunes with anything that could make sounds. When he found a discarded, dented trombone, he quickly claimed it as his own and taught himself to play.
His passion for music drove him to practice playing the brass instrument, making him the great player we know today.
Pair this book with the lesson plans and teaching resources for use with Snowflake Bentley and make text-to-text connections about two passionately driven people.
You Can Do It, Bert! by Ole Könnecke
Children will giggle when they see what Bert worked so hard to accomplish.
Use this book to make text-to-self connections as children contemplate Bert's feelings before and after he jumped off the branch.
A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen
Learning how to write a story is a process that takes a lot of practice and patience. Listening to feedback and ideas is also important when writing.
The young boy in A Squiggly Story is encouraged by his sister to take the writing process a step at a time. He ultimately writes an exciting adventure story that he shares with his classmates.
Pair this story with the lesson plans and teaching resources for use with Thank You, Mr. Falker to inspire children to make text-to-text connections.
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
We are compelled to learn when we are inspired. Understanding that you can learn anything you want to is the first step in developing a growth mindset.
Gerald the Giraffe wants to learn how to dance, but his gangly legs prevent him from moving as fluidly as his friends. When he finds music that speaks to him, his body moves gracefully to the music.
The lesson plans and teaching resources for use with Amazing Grace is the perfect pairing for Giraffes Can't Dance as children have plenty of opportunities to practice making predictions and connections.
A Small Thing...but Big by Tony Johnston
This sweet story is about a young girl who is afraid of dogs and an older gentleman who is unsure of children.
The beautifully illustrated story teaches all of us that we can learn to tackle our fears by facing them one step at a time.
Pair this story with the lesson plans and teaching resources for use with Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, and practice making predictions with students.
What Do You Do With a Problem by Kobi Yamada
When we are learning new things, we are bound to run into problems. If you have a growth mindset, you will find a way to work through the problem. This book encourages readers to stick with the problem and learn from the process of finding a solution.
What Do You Do With a Problem works perfectly with the lesson plans and teaching resources for use with A Chair for My Mother.
A Chair for My Mother tells the story of a young girl who solves a problem by working hard to save money for a comfortable chair for her hard-working mother. It's important to keep the author's purpose in mind while reading and comparing this book with other problem-solving books.
