How Will Implementing Growth Mindset Strategies Impact The Classroom Environment of First Grade Elementary Art Students?

Seminar Title

How Will Implementing Growth Mindset Strategies Impact The Classroom Environment of First Grade Elementary Art Students?

Growth Mindset

1st Grade

1st Grade

Art

Art

“I am not creative. I can’t even draw stick people.” As an elementary art specialist, I have heard this countless times. I will be sharing my research done with elementary age students focusing on the growth mindset strategies. Together, we explored the power of strategies, failure, making mistakes, individual resilience and community building. At the end of this session, you may still may not be able to draw stick people...yet! But, with the power of growth mindset you will have more strategies to use that are relative to your classroom.

Anne Mattis Anoka Blended 5 Learning Community atmatt16@smumn.edu How Will Implementing Growth Mindset Strategies Impact The Classroom Environment of First Grade Elementary Art Students? I was puzzled with how I, as an Elementary Art Specialist, could create a classroom where the environment is focused on the group and engaged in the creative process. The focus is on individual projects while fostering a sense of resilience, stamina and positivity for the subject matter of art. A review of the literature that I researched suggested that growth mindset strategies could help my practice, foster positive productivity, and increase a sense of community. The targeted areas included cooperative learning, individual self-assessments, surveys and family communication of our classroom learning, along with group areas of focus on the power of our words using selected growth mindset terminology and logs of frequency. Through my research I learned that integrating weekly lessons with my first grade class on growth mindset proved to be of great value. Using these strategies to infuse growth mindset strategies and the celebration of the process rather than the product, I was able to enhance class time with my students and create an even more positive artistic experience for all. My students were now able to support one other, problem solve and celebrate mistakes! The changes proved to be gradual, but well received. Additional non-verbal and visual prompts helped eliminate student anxiety while the majority students remained focused and positive. The process and implementation of growth mindset was a powerful lesson in the power of words and positivity with a refreshing sense of wonder and renewed excitement in the stages of learning and growing together while in the classroom environment.