How many of you have ever had a child that has troubles making mistakes? When a mistake is made the student has a hard time dealing with the consequences. What about that child that takes a long time to complete an assignment because each letter, word, or number has to be written perfectly? Yes . . . you know what I’m talking about, and I’m sure you had a few names come to mind.
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
One of the best life skill lessons that we can teach our children in the classroom and at home focuses on “Developing a Growth Mindset”.
I came across this book, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein. This is a perfect book to help children begin to understand that mistakes are acceptable.
I love how this book not only details how Beatrice is so perfect, but how she had a hard time overcoming a mistake. This is very typical of children who have a hard time with mistakes. The mistake is like a dark cloud that impacts the entire day. Throughout the story, Beatrice learns how to overcome this challenge and sees mistakes as a stop for learning.
When I was looking for more lessons to engage students in learning, I turned to this book, The Growth Mindset Coach. It has a year long plan of ideas that can be used in the classroom and at home to support children on developing a growth mindset.
This book starts in August with a reflective session, then in September the text provides a guideline of ideas that can be easily implemented in the classroom through family meetings (aka class meetings), throughout the day as “opportunity arises” lessons, or even when the child has had a moment to calm down, reflect, and engage in a learning conversation about the incident. I use this book alongside my district’s Positive Action SEL program.
Use Children’s Lit for Learning
Check out these children’s books to use as additional resources for teaching a growth mindset. I love having a variety of titles to choose from when teaching skills, strategies, and concepts. Each of these books focus on developing that growth mindset and can be used anytime throughout the year.
My autistic son got one of two growth mindset awards in 7th grade. He had gone from refusing to go to school, to being a TA and taking other kids under his wing during that year. I credit his teacher, but he was SO proud of his growth.
YES!!! Such a wonderful success story!!! THANK YOU for sharing!!! Your son sounds AMAZING!!!
I love these books and the growth mindset. Mistakes help us grow if we allow them too. My firstborn sure could have benefited from the book on making mistakes. As a child she’d erase her paper until she made holes in it. She couldn’t tolerate mistakes. Thankfully she’s better now as an adult.
That’s fabulous!!! I have many students that start the year being a perfectionist. As we learn about growth mindset, their perspective on personal expectations changes – for the better!! 🙂
I definitely need this book for my family!
It’s a fabulous and organized book for easy use!!
My son still struggles with this issue. He’s 20 and in college and has a hard time accepting anything that is less than perfect. Very focused. Very driven. He gets upset if he gets an A-. Too late for him to read these books. 🙁
I would still suggest the read. Sometimes seeing one’s own challenges through a book is enough to start change.
Great recommendation! Growth mindset is so important to teach kids! Everything is a work in progress!
Exactly . . . a work in progress!!
The 4th grade teacher where I worked has this book and his entire classroom is based on a growth mindset. He is an awesome teacher!
Fabulous!!! I’m glad to hear other teachers using this concept.
Great options to help young ones realize there are no mistakes…only learning opportunities.
Yes . . . only learning opportunities!!! It is a mindset!!
Great post. I love the children’s books and am going to use one for a family lesson you just inspired me.
Great!! I’d love to hear how the lesson went.