Growing a Growth Mindset - by Kevin Sheehan & Jessica Ryan (Paperback)

About the Book

Growing a Growth Mindset provides teachers with an innovative approach to teaching children the positive psychology constructs that underlie self-belief, goal motivation, and happiness.

Book Synopsis

Growing a Growth Mindset provides teachers with an innovative approach to teaching children the positive psychology constructs that underlie self-belief, goal motivation, and happiness.

Review Quotes

All those who work with children seek inspiration and creativity from whatever source may be available. Kevin and Jessica's inspiring stories of grit, perseverance, and courage allow parents and teachers to convey a precious gift to the world's future leaders, the power of hope.

Educators will find this book a valuable resource in their efforts to promote in students growth mindset, emotional resiliency, hope, and grit--all of which play a crucial role in helping children cope, thrive, and succeed in school and beyond.

I feel privileged and honored that Sheehan and Ryan have chosen to utilize the message of following your passions in life despite what obstacles stand in your way within Growing a Growth Mindset: Unlocking Character Strengths Through Children's Literature. I am excited that this message has been incorporated into a curriculum that I feel could have a tremendous impact on educators, parents, and students.

Thanks to Growing a Growth Mindset, I feel as though I've been given a real gift! I now have an exceptional resource to use for teaching social-emotional skills like growth mindset, happiness, grit, and identifying natural talents. The resources and activities that Sheehan and Ryan suggest will make my students eagerly anticipate these lessons and beg for more!

The field of social studies is primed for some new thinking. Growth mindsets is a particularly exciting way into this new thinking.

The ideas set forth in this powerful book are critical if we are to free children from the mistaken belief that failing is something to be feared. Bravo to the authors for taking on this important issue.

The lessons on positive psychology impacted my child by letting her take ownership of her feelings. She heard stories of hope and perseverance from others that made her think and ask questions when she came home. She was able to internalize that if she tried really hard and dedicated herself to something she wasn't good at, she would eventually succeed. She knew that this success wasn't going to be instantaneous and that it would be gradual, but when she saw the results of her hard work as a grade on a paper, she was so proud of herself.

I really enjoyed the assignments that involved parental input. It allowed me to share stories about my challenges and experiences that I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to share with her. I think that doing assignments like these brings a deeper closeness to the parent and child; it provides a better understanding of where a parent is coming from when they give words of encouragement or advice based on their past experiences.

With the increased focus on common core standards and standardized testing, concepts embedded in positive psychology such as grit, character, and hope have too often been ignored in discourse on education. Witnessing the price paid by students for this, educators are increasingly coming to embrace these powerful factors in student learning. This book fills a significant gap in the literature and offers concrete strategies teachers and parents can take to "spread ripples of hope" in our schools and in our communities.

About the Author

Kevin Sheehan is a tenured associate professor at Molloy College, where he has served on the faculty for over a decade. Molloy College recognized Kevin with its Faculty Leadership Award for his work with children of poverty, and the New York State Council for Social Studies awarded Kevin the Distinguished Social Studies Educator Award for his efforts in preparing social studies teachers in 2009.

Jessica Ryan has worked as an elementary teacher in Lynbrook School District and an adjunct professor at Molloy College. In 2012, she was recognized as the Mathematics Teacher of the Year by the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Association and named the 2013 Teacher of the Year by the 9/11 Tribute Center.