Brain Stretch: Your Math Superpower!

Think about a time you faced a tricky problem (it could be a puzzle, a video game level, or even something outside of school). You didn't get it right away, but you kept trying.

1. What was the challenge?
   
   
   
   
   
2. What did you do to try and solve it?
   
   
   
   
   
3. How did it feel when you finally figured it out or made progress?
   
   
   
   
   

Math Mindset: Power Up! - Teacher Script

Warm Up: Brain Stretch (5 minutes)

(Display Brain Stretch Warm Up slide)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! Let's start with a quick 'Brain Stretch' to get our minds ready. Take a look at the questions on the screen (or your worksheet). Think about a time you faced a tricky problem—it could be a puzzle, a video game level, or even something outside of school. You didn't get it right away, but you kept trying. I want you to quietly think about and write down your answers to these three questions for the next 3 minutes:

1. What was the challenge?
2. What did you do to try and solve it?
3. How did it feel when you finally figured it out or made progress?"

(Allow 3 minutes for students to write. Walk around and observe.)

Teacher: "Alright, who would like to share their 'superpower story' with the class? Don't worry if you didn't completely solve your problem, just tell us about the challenge and what you tried."

(Call on 2-3 students. Affirm their efforts and focus on the perseverance they demonstrated.)

Teacher: "Great examples! Notice how many of you mentioned trying different things, not giving up, and the feeling of accomplishment when you made progress. This idea of 'powering up' your brain and seeing challenges as opportunities is exactly what we're going to talk about today."

Introduction to Growth Mindset (7 minutes)

(Display Math Mindset Power Up Slide Deck - Slide: 'What's Your Math Mindset?')

Teacher: "Today, we're going to talk about your 'math mindset.' What do you think that means?"

(Allow brief student responses.)

Teacher: "Exactly! Your math mindset is how you think about your abilities in math. Do you believe your math skills are fixed, meaning you're either good at it or you're not? Or do you believe your math skills can grow and improve with effort?"

(Display Math Mindset Power Up Slide Deck - Slide: 'Fixed vs. Growth Mindset')

Teacher: "There are two main types of mindsets: a Fixed Mindset and a Growth Mindset. A fixed mindset sounds like, 'I'm just not good at math,' or 'I'll never understand algebra.' It's like believing your math brain is a finished product. But a growth mindset? That sounds like, 'I'm not good at math yet!' It's believing your math brain is like a muscle that gets stronger the more you use it and challenge it."

Teacher: "Which mindset do you think is more helpful for learning new things, especially in math? Why?"

(Facilitate a short discussion, guiding students to understand that a growth mindset encourages learning and perseverance.)

(Display Math Mindset Power Up Slide Deck - Slide: 'Mistakes are Opportunities!')

Teacher: "Sometimes in math, we make mistakes. How do you usually feel when you get an answer wrong?"

(Listen to a few responses, acknowledging frustration.)

Teacher: "It's normal to feel a bit frustrated! But with a growth mindset, we see mistakes differently. Every mistake is actually a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow. They show us what we still need to understand and help our brains get stronger. Instead of saying, 'Ugh, I got it wrong,' we can say, 'Hmm, what can I learn from this mistake?'"

Reading: The Power of 'Yet' (8 minutes)

(Display Math Mindset Power Up Slide Deck - Slide: 'The Power of 'Yet'')

Teacher: "Speaking of powerful words, there's one tiny word that can make a HUGE difference in your math mindset. That word is 'yet.' We're going to read a short article called The Power of 'Yet' Reading that explains why this word is so important."

(Distribute the reading.)

Teacher: "You can read this silently to yourself, or if you're with a partner, you can read it together. As you read, think about how adding 'yet' can change how you approach challenges in math."

(Allow 5 minutes for reading. Walk around and monitor.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's discuss. What's the main idea of 'the power of yet'? How can adding that one word change your feelings about a math problem you find difficult?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion. Encourage students to share examples.)

Teacher: "So, instead of saying 'I can't do this multiplication,' you could say 'I can't do this multiplication yet!' How does that feel different?"

Activity: Math Challenge Conquerors (7 minutes)

(Display Math Mindset Power Up Slide Deck - Slide: 'Math Challenge Conquerors Activity')

Teacher: "Now that we understand the power of 'yet' and a growth mindset, let's put it into practice. I'm going to put you into small groups of 2-3 students. In your groups, I want you to brainstorm a common math challenge you or other students might face. For example, maybe it's 'I don't understand fractions' or 'I always forget formulas.'"

Teacher: "Once you've chosen a challenge, your group will brainstorm 2-3 specific growth mindset strategies you could use to 'conquer' that challenge. Think about what we just discussed, the reading, and your own experiences. How can you apply the 'power of yet' or see mistakes as learning opportunities?"

(Divide students into groups. Provide 4 minutes for brainstorming.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's hear from a couple of groups. Who wants to share their math challenge and the growth mindset strategies they came up with?"

(Call on 1-2 groups. Affirm their ideas and connect them back to the lesson's concepts.)

Wrap-Up & Reflection (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent job, everyone! You're already starting to power up your math mindsets. To wrap up, I'm going to give you a short Growth Mindset Math Worksheet that asks you to reflect on what we learned today and commit to using a growth mindset in your math class."

(Distribute the worksheet.)

Teacher: "Take a few minutes to complete this. You can keep this as a reminder of your commitment to powering up your math brain. Remember, your brain is amazing, and it can grow! Keep challenging yourself, learn from your mistakes, and never give up. You've got the power to improve in math!"

The Power of 'Yet'

Have you ever said, "I can't do this!" especially when it comes to math? Or maybe, "I'm just not good at science" or "I'll never understand how to play this instrument"?

It's a common feeling, and it's okay to feel that way sometimes. But what if one tiny word could change your entire perspective? That word is "YET".

Imagine you're trying to solve a really tough math problem. You've tried a few things, and it's just not working. If you say, "I can't solve this problem," it feels like the end. It feels like you've failed, and there's no way forward.

But what if you changed that sentence to: "I can't solve this problem... YET!"

Suddenly, everything changes! That little word, "yet," tells your brain that you haven't given up. It means you're still learning, still trying, and still growing. It opens up the possibility that with more effort, different strategies, or a bit more practice, you will get there.

Think of your brain like a muscle. When you work out your muscles, they get stronger. The same thing happens with your brain! When you face a challenge and keep trying, even if you make mistakes, your brain is actually building new connections and getting smarter. Those mistakes aren't failures; they're clues that tell you what you need to learn next.

So, the next time you feel stuck or think you "can't" do something, try adding the word "yet." It's a secret superpower that can help you transform challenges into opportunities for growth and success, especially in subjects like math where perseverance is key! It reminds you that learning is a journey, not a destination, and that your abilities are not fixed—they can always expand.

Math Challenge Conquerors: Power Up Your Strategies!

Goal: Work with your group to identify a common math challenge and brainstorm growth mindset strategies to overcome it.

Instructions:

1. Form Your Group: Work in small groups of 2-3 students.

2. Identify a Math Challenge: As a group, think about a common math challenge that you or other students often face. It could be something like:

   • "I don't understand fractions."
   • "I always forget geometry formulas."
   • "Word problems are too confusing."
   • "I make silly mistakes in calculations."
   • "I get stuck on multi-step problems."
   • Write your group's chosen challenge here:
     
     
     
     

3. Brainstorm Growth Mindset Strategies: Now, using what we discussed about growth mindset and "the power of yet," brainstorm 2-3 specific strategies your group could use to conquer this challenge. Think about:

   • How can you reframe the problem using "yet"?
   • What can you learn from mistakes related to this challenge?
   • What actions can you take to improve?

   Write your strategies here:

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4. Prepare to Share: Be ready to share your group's challenge and strategies with the class!

Growth Mindset Math: My Power-Up Plan!

Name: ________________________

Date: ________________________

Reflect and Grow!

1. In your own words, what is a "growth mindset" when it comes to learning math?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is the "power of yet"? Give an example of how you can use it in a math sentence.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Think about a math topic or type of problem that you find challenging. What is it?
   
   
   
   
   

4. Using what you learned today, describe at least two growth mindset strategies you will use to approach this challenge. How will these strategies help you?

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5. How do you think your math learning will change if you consistently use a growth mindset?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

My Growth Mindset Pledge:

I pledge to remember that my math abilities can grow and improve with effort. I will embrace challenges, learn from my mistakes, and use the power of "yet" to help me succeed! I am a Math Challenge Conqueror!