Mind
"Great job! You must be smart at this."
Fixed Mindset
(Attributes success to natural intelligence rather than the work put in.)
"Great job! You must have worked really hard."
Growth Mindset
(Focuses entirely on the effort put into the task.)
"You really studied for your English test and your improvement shows it."
Growth Mindset
(Directly connects the action of studying to the tangible result of improvement.)
"See, you are good at English. You got an A on your last test."
Fixed Mindset
(Ties a good grade to a static label of being naturally "good at" a subject.)
"I like the way you tried all kinds of strategies on that math problem until you finally got it."
Growth mindset
(Praises critical thinking, adaptability, and refusing to give up.)
"You got it! I told you that you were smart."
Fixed Mindset
(Reinforces the idea that getting the right answer is just proof of being born smart.)
"You are such a good student!"
Fixed Mindset
(Even though it's positive, it’s a fixed label. If the student struggles later, they might think, "I guess I'm not a good student anymore.")
"I love the way you kept your concentration, and kept on working. That’s great!"
Growth Mindset
(Values focus, determination, and stamina over just getting an answer quickly.)