Subject: Student Success Program

Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Lesson title: Growth Mindset Materials:

Lesson Objectives: At the end of the session, I should be able to:
1. learn strategies to adequately face difficulties in college. References:
2. understand and apply the necessary strategies to achieve a https://cobham.kent.sch.uk/wp-
Growth Mindset. content/uploads/2017/12/the-power-
of-yet.jpg
Big Life Journal: biglifejournal.com
https://www.psychologytoday.com/
us/blog/click-here-happiness/
201904/15-ways-build-growth-
mindset

— DO —
Duration: 20 mins

Before we start, let’s start with a bit of daydreaming. No matter what our circumstances are at this very moment, we
know that things could be very different if just a few things were a bit different in our lives.

So, answer these questions as best as you can:

Think of something you’ve done in the past week that really challenged you to think hard.
What was it? / What were they?

Give as many responses as you can think of:

What’s something you’ve been working on frequently lately?

It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It can be as simple as trying to wake up earlier every day, eating less carbs, drinking more
water, exercising every day.

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Give as many responses as you can think of:

What’s something you wish you could do better in?

This means this is something that you’re already doing, but not quite an expert in.

Give as many responses as you can think of:

In the past week, what mistake did you do— big or small —that still irritates you
up to now?

Give as many responses as you can think of:

If you know you wouldn’t fail, what would you do?

(For example: Become a chef! / Write a novel! / Become the next Philippine Idol!
Remember: The idea here is that what you intend to do, you are guaranteed to be a success.)

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Give as many responses as you can think of:

On a scale of 1 to 100, where 100 is the highest, how would you rate yourself right now?
Just in general. Shade your answer below:

10 50 100

This might be a bit more challenging to think and write about, so take time to really think about your answer:

What’s keeping you from feeling a hundred percent?

Try to be as specific as possible. You can use full sentences, you can use phrases, you can draw images. (If you’re
one of the lucky ones who feels a hundred percent, please share why this is so.)

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 Subject: Student Success Program
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— THINK —
Duration: 15 mins

The questions above demonstrate how we

usually use a certain kind of thinking that
limits the things we can achieve. This is called
a Fixed Mindset. A Fixed Mindset makes us
focus on the things we can’t do, on our
limitations, on our challenges—without
helping us think of a way to get out of that
situation.

The opposite of that kind of thinking is called

the GROWTH MINDSET. This is what we’re
going to work on today.
So, what exactly is a Growth Mindset? What
happens when we have one?

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“A growth mindset is simply the belief that our basic abilities can be developed and
improved through dedication and hard work. It's not so much that this belief is some kind
of magic. It's just that without a growth mindset, we don't exert the required effort and
so we remain perpetually stuck.”

-Tchiki Davis, Ph.D.

“15 Ways to Build a Growth Mindset”,
Psychology Today

Is this easier said than done? In a way, yes. It takes practice, dedication, determination—but the actual steps are
“easy” enough as long as you make sure you keep doing them. Actually, the Growth Mindset is also based on
Science. Here’s how it works.

Imagine two brain cells:

Brain Brain
Think of these two brain cells as Cell 1 Cell 2 living in the same village (your
brain). Now, the first time they see each other, they may smile at each
other, but that’s it. Since they’re strangers, they won’t really do anything more. But that smile will give them a
positive feeling, a spark maybe.

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Every time we do a new action, think in a new way, certain

cells inside our brain “communicate” with each other via an
electromagnetic pulse. This is when they first smile with
each, so to speak.

Now, let’s say the two brain cells see each other again. They
might feel more comfortable since they already saw each
other before. This time, they might realize that they’re
Brain Brain actually neighbors, and so they might say hello now, ask
Cell 1 Cell 2 how the other is doing.

Every time we repeat that new action or that new way of thinking, our brain cells will recognize that this was
something you already did before. And so they will connect more easily, communicate a bit more. Every time they
connect the signals they send each other get coated with a substance called MYELIN. This protects the connections
made between brain cells. Each time they communicate, the
myelin coating thickens, strengthening the bond, therefore
making communication between those two cells even
easier, quicker.

The brain then starts recognizing that communication

between these two brain cells are high priority, so every
time they try to talk, the brain makes sure to use all
Brain That black Brain
available energy to even strengthen that bond between the
stuff is
cells. Cell 1 Cell 2
called
MYELIN.
So if they keep meeting this way, what then will happen to
the two brain cells who live in the same village? Who knows? If they keep meeting, keep improving their connection
every time they meet, maybe their bond will become even more permanent!

Brain Brain
Cell 1 Cell 2
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Can you imagine if a bond between cells becomes more permanent? That action or thought becomes a more
permanent part of you—and so this change will become something that lasts.

Think of a child who first learns how to crawl. The child then learns how to take a few steps while holding on to a
chair or a wall. And then the child will learn how to walk, run, dance, hop, swim...and so on. This is the natural
progression of growth. And this is what happens to us when we have the Growth Mindset.

Let’s go back to the questions you answered in the beginning of this module. See if you can look at your answers to
them a bit differently.

Think of something you’ve done in the past week that

really challenged you to think hard. What was it? / What
were they?
Whatever it was, this experience just proves that you
CAN do hard things.

What’s something you’ve been working on frequently

lately?
Do you find yourself improving, even in a small way,
the more you do it? If you keep at it, then you’ll find
yourself getting better, especially if it’s something that
truly inspires you.

What’s something you wish you could do better in?

Try adding the word “yet” to a sentence about
something you can’t do or do better in. It’s all a matter
of time. Don’t give up. If you keep training your brain,
you will get better. Believe in the Power of “Yet”.

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In the past week, what mistake did you do—big or small—that still irritates you up to now?
Yes, we do tend to obsess over our mistakes. Sometimes we beat ourselves up because we can’t get over it. But
guess what? Mistakes are essential to learning. Every child falls and trips before they become expert walkers.
(Besides, we still trip when we DO become expert walkers.)

And so now, let’s go back to the different reasons you’re feeling especially challenged right now. Some of us might
be in circumstances we don’t have any control over, but we can control what we do in those circumstances, to a
certain extent. *

Look back at what you wrote and try to finish these statements.

It was really hard when I _______________________________________________,

but I was able to do it! That’s because I can ____________________________.

To get better at _________________________________________________, I will

____________________________ until I can __________________________________.

I’m doing my best to _________________________________________________.

I’m not the best at it ______, but someday, I will.

*If, for any reason, you are unable to find the control and peace of mind you need no matter how hard you try, don’t
worry, there’s nothing wrong with you. You just might need help from an expert. If you’re feeling at a loss, depressed,

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confused to a degree that already consumes you, please reach out to your teacher as soon as possible. Help is available.
Help is always available.

— REFLECT—

Duration: 10 mins
Read the statements below. Identify which of the statements in the left column you identify with the most. Which of
those statements do you often say to yourself? Then, look at the column that shows you what you can say instead.

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In a short essay/letter to yourself or a quick drawing in the next page, show how you plan to work on having a
Growth Mindset, starting with what you CAN SAY to yourself INSTEAD of what you used to say to yourself.

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 Subject: Student Success Program
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 Subject: Student Success Program
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Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

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