High School Equivalency (HSE) students may have been out of school for 2 months, 2 years or 20 years+ before returning to the classroom. Some are confident in their ability to earn their diploma; others start class feeling strong and then after a few weeks, feel discouraged.

To help students navigate the challenges that come with returning to school, teachers Brad Weaver and Michelle Gonzalez talk with them about the growth mindset. If a student cultivates a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset, he/she views problems as an opportunity to learn rather than avoiding problems in an effort to not fail. The growth mindset understands that intelligence is not a fixed trait--rather, intelligence grows with effort. Embracing this mindset helps students to work harder in response to a failure. (See www.mindsetkit.org  for more information.)

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset is one of Brad’s favorite videos to show the class. Both teachers emphasize how a student’s belief in his/her own intelligence can greatly impact his/her engagement and achievement.