Additional Resources for Mentors

Mentor Specific Resources

• Seven Common Growth Mindset Scenarios and Responses. This handout provides seven common scenarios that mentors might encounter when supporting a student around academics. It provides examples of responses that can promote a growth mindset and reframe negative thinking.
• Strategy Box. This simple exercise can help youth identify strategies that have worked for them in the past that they can apply to new problems and challenges. Can be helpful when youth feel "stuck" or lacking in ability.
• Relationship Strategy Box. A strategy box is a simple tool that helps youth apply strategies and actions that have led to previous success to new challenges and problems. This version actually helps mentors reflect on how to build stronger mentoring relationships.
• Handout – How To Be a Great Mentor. This handout is a supplement to the Mentor Toolkit and reviews some of the core elements of being the type of mentor that can best deliver messages around mindsets.

General Resources

• Growth Mindset Lesson Plan - by Khan Academy and PERTS. This lesson plan offers several fun activities that can teach youth that intelligence can be developed and that their minds are malleable. Great for mentors, teachers, and others working with youth in groups or even one-on-one.
• Mistake Game. Students engage in a "game" where they intentionally make mistakes and see if other students can spot their mistakes. This is to encourage students to feel comfortable making and learning from mistakes.
• Carol Dweck TED Talk. In this popular TED Talk, Carol Dweck gives a powerful introduction the the growth mindset and the power of believing that you can improve.
• Mindset Works. A company that creates products and resources to help educators and parents change mindsets.
• Relevance Reflection. Help students see the relevance of their coursework by asking them to reflect on what they are doing in class and how it connects to their lives.
• Growth Mindset - Exercising Your Mind Continued. Students will answer opinion questions that will serve as an introduction to a Growth Mindset article.
• Mindset Self Talk T-Chart. T-chart showing self talk sentences that indicate fixed and growth mindsets.
• Connecting Personal Neurons - Understanding How The Mind Grows. Students create posters showing the difference between how the brain's neurons share information at an early age (5 years) compared to that of their current age today.
• Introduction To Growth Mindset - Graphic Organizer. Graphic organizer complete with basic pre-lesson and post-lesson survey.
• "The Day the Crayons Quit" Mindset Lesson. Lesson plan for teaching fixed vs. growth mindset using The Day the Crayons Quit.