Dear Academic Approach Families and Colleagues:

I remember serving on District 39’s Community Review Committee (CRC) in 2014-5 when we developed a report on Cultivating Growth-Minded, Resilient Students. It was a great process, affording us the opportunity to gather research, survey parents, and interview experts.

Among the many valuable recommendations was a campaign to educate students about growth-minded thinking throughout our schools. The 10 Growth Mindset Statements below made its way home and has since never left my children’s bulletin boards.

Below that visual I’ve included another–“Who do I want to be during Covid-19?” I find it helpful in reflecting on what our children are currently experiencing through a “fixed mindset” vs. “growth mindset” lens. This visual will be added to bulletin boards today! I hope you find it useful.