While there is a growing body of resources available on teaching growth mindset, there isn’t much in terms of thinking about how space can help facilitate this process. I wanted to highlight a few thoughts worth exploring as we head back to school.
Hold time and space for defining agency
- Work together to collectively define what the terms agency and growth mindset mean. Keep this collective thinking visible up on the walls as you drill down to a few key ideas. I love this definition, and this strategy can help! Once you have the terms and definitions finalized…
Provide visual prompts
- Designate a space in your classroom where you can leave up your definitions for student agency and growth mindset, so that students always have something to come back to and reflect upon. Check out CraftED’s latest classroom decor-Super Agent Posters:
Have a resource or reference corner
- This is a space that students can freely access if they need any sort of materials for their class work. Items in this space could include books, technology, tools, process posters or suggested steps. The idea here is that students will access this space before asking for help, as to help promote self-advocacy and independence.
Designate reflection space
- Although you will likely ask students to reflect often, it is important for students to be aware of their needs as a learner and take additional time to reflect and reset as needed. This space is designated as quiet and peaceful and aimed at providing students a safe space to think about themselves. CraftED just released the Agency Station Tutorial to aid in the process of setting up this space. The idea is similar to a resource/reference corner in that reflection prompts and resources are available to help students when they are stuck or facing a challenge of some sort. This space can be particularly helpful for students with special needs or who are growing into their self advocacy skills.
Call the Coach
- In my classroom I always had a blank whiteboard wall for “call the coach” sign ups. During work time multiple students or groups often needed my help. To increase student agency I would ask them to write their names and their needs on the growing list. I would then help each group in the order in which they appeared. For students who were done with the current task, they could serve as a coach and also support students, checking off their names when done, allowing me to jump to the next name on the list. teacher note: students could only put their name and needs on the list if they had “seen three before me” (meaning they had checked with 3 other people or resources before asking for my help).
Highlight Super Agents
- For classroom culture building it is nice to have a place on the wall where you can highlight students who have displayed agency. To further promote agency, you can ask students to nominate one another. You can update the board daily or weekly. In my classroom I had students think about their super powers, I then took their picture with their super power on a chalkboard by them and posted on the wall for a reminder. We used these as the framework for our Student Led Conferences in the fall.
Up next…setting up your classroom space for tinkering. stay tuned!