SEL: Growth Mindset: Learning from Mistakes
Practicing helpful thoughts after mistakes
SEL: Growth Mindset: Learning from Mistakes
Practicing helpful thoughts after mistakes
SEL - Grade 2-3
- 1
Maya spells a word wrong on her spelling practice. Write one helpful thing Maya can say to herself.
Helpful self-talk is kind and reminds you that you can improve.
Maya can say, "I made a mistake, and I can learn from it by practicing the word again." - 2
Circle the growth mindset sentence: "I am bad at math" or "I do not understand it yet." Explain why it is helpful.
"I do not understand it yet" is a growth mindset sentence because it shows the student can keep learning and improve with practice. - 3
Leo drops his art project and it tears. Write one calm action Leo can take next.
Think about what Leo can do instead of giving up.
Leo can take a deep breath, ask for tape or help, and try to fix the torn part of the project. - 4
Write one mistake you made while learning something new. Then write what you learned from it.
Answers will vary. A complete answer names a mistake and explains a lesson, such as learning to slow down, ask for help, or try a new strategy. - 5
A student says, "I cannot read this book." Rewrite the sentence using the word "yet."
The word "yet" helps your brain remember that learning takes time.
The sentence can be rewritten as, "I cannot read this book yet." This shows the student can keep practicing and grow as a reader. - 6
Put these steps in a helpful order after making a mistake: Try again, Notice the mistake, Ask what I can learn.
A helpful order is: Notice the mistake, ask what I can learn, and try again. - 7
Sofia gets a low score on a quiz. Write one question she can ask her teacher to help her learn.
Good questions help you know what to practice next.
Sofia can ask, "Can you help me understand the problems I missed?" This question helps her learn from the quiz. - 8
Choose the helpful reaction and explain your choice: crumpling the paper, asking for help, or saying mean words to yourself.
Asking for help is the helpful reaction because it can lead to learning and solving the problem. - 9
Draw or describe a face that shows how someone might feel after a mistake. Then write one kind sentence to help that person.
People may feel sad, worried, frustrated, or embarrassed after a mistake.
Answers will vary. A complete answer describes a feeling and includes a kind sentence, such as "It is okay to make mistakes because you are still learning." - 10
Jamal keeps missing the basket in basketball practice. Write one way he can practice with a growth mindset.
Jamal can keep practicing, try aiming in a new way, and ask a coach or friend for a tip. - 11
Write a growth mindset sentence that starts with: "Next time, I will..."
Think about one action that could help you improve.
Answers will vary. A complete sentence might be, "Next time, I will check my work carefully before I turn it in." - 12
Nina feels embarrassed because she read the wrong word out loud. Write one thing a kind classmate could say.
A kind classmate could say, "That happens to everyone sometimes. You can try the sentence again." - 13
Look at the mistake path: Mistake, Feeling, Helpful thought, New try. Fill in a helpful thought for the path.
A helpful thought should be kind and focused on learning.
A helpful thought could be, "Mistakes help me learn, and I can try again." - 14
Write one reason mistakes can be useful for learning.
Mistakes can be useful because they show what we need to practice or understand better. - 15
Read the situation: You build a block tower, and it falls down. Write two next steps that show a growth mindset.
Think about trying a new plan instead of quitting.
Two growth mindset next steps are to look at why the tower fell and build it again with a stronger base.