A Mindset for Learning: Teaching the Traits of Joyful, Independent Growth

“This book is a gem: vivid, fun and thoughtful. It’s like sitting next to a skillful, experienced, focused teacher in a real classroom. Kristi and Christine draw on their years of teaching and their dedication to educating children to help students become more empathic and act more thoughtfully and to prepare them with the essentials for success in an uncertain future.”

―Arthur Costa, author of Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind

We know how to teach content and skills. But can we teach the habits of mind needed for academic success, a love of learning, and agency in the world? We can, and A Mindset for Learning shows us how.

“We want our students to take on challenges with zeal,” write Kristi Mraz and Christine Hertz, “to see themselves not as static test scores but as agents of change.” Drawing on the work of Carol Dweck, Daniel Pink, Art Costa, and others, Kristi and Christine show us how to lead students to a growth mindset for school―and life―by focusing on five crucial, research-driven attitudes:

• optimism―putting aside fear and resistance to learn something new
• persistence―keeping at it, even when a task is hard
• flexibility―trying different ways to find a solution
• resilience―bouncing back from setbacks and learning from failure
• empathy―learning by putting oneself in another person’s shoes.

A Mindset for Learning pairs research―psychological, neurological, and pedagogical―with practical classroom help, including instructional language, charts and visuals, teaching tips, classroom vignettes, and more.

“This book holds our dreams for all children,” write Kristi and Christine, “that they grow to be brave in the face of risk, kind in the face of challenge, joyful and curious in all things.” If you want that for your students, then help them discover A Mindset for Learning.

Kristine Mraz is coauthor—with Christine Hertz—of Kids First from Day One, which provides a practical blueprint for increasing the child-centeredness of your teaching practice. She and Christine previously teamed up for the bestselling A Mindset for Learning (coauthored with Christine Hertz), which provides practical and powerful strategies for cultivating optimism, flexibility, and empathy alongside traditional academic skills. 

Kristi has also coauthored—with Alison Porceli and Cheryl Tyler—Purposeful Play, the book that helps you make play a powerful part of your teaching. She and Marjorie Martinelli wrote Smarter Charts and Smarter Charts for Math, Science, and Social Studies ​to get the most out of this classroom staple. Their popular blog Chartchums keeps teachers in touch with ongoing and relevant classroom issues and ways to use charts as a support. Chartchums is also on Facebook and on Twitter @chartchums!

Kristi is a recent transplant to southern California, where she will be writing and consulting until the classroom calls again.  You can follow all of her adventures on Twitter @MrazKristine or on her blog, found at kristimraz.com.

Christine Hertz is coauthor of the Heinemann titles ​Kids First from Day One ​and A Mindset for Learning.  She finds great joy and challenge in helping all children grow as independent and engaged students. She is passionate about keeping play and creativity at the center of children's lives and curiosity and wonder at the heart of learning. Christine has taught in a wide variety of classrooms from preschool to fourth grade and as an adjunct instructor of education courses. She currently teaches in Worcester, Vermont. You can follow her on Twitter @christine_hertz or visit her web site at christinehertz.com.