Expectations, Rules, Class Norms & Growth Mindset.

Part of setting up a classroom involves expectations, rules, and norms. Embedding growth mindset expectations and norms into class rules and routines create a positive learning environment that normalizes mistakes as a necessary process in learning.

Explicit instruction of class expectations, rules, and norms helps students understand exactly what is expected. Explicit instruction enhances students' on task behaviors and adherence to class rules and expectations (Evertson, Poole & IRIS Center, 2003). The IRIS Center (2014) recommends that expectations, rules and norms have the following characteristics:

Positive Tone. Positively stated rules/expectations set a more positive class tone and share expected behaviors. For example, “bring your charged computer to class “sets a more positive class tone than “don’t forget to bring your computer.”
Simple, Specific, Short in Number. IRIS (2014) recommends class rules be specific and easy to understand. The fewer rules/expectations across settings the better.
Observable. Observable rules/expectations can be positively reinforced.

We can embed growth mindset ideology into class expectations and norms. For example, we can establish a class a class norm that mistakes are expected. Mistakes grow our brains and make us stronger. Outlined below are resources from Stanford University PERTS Center and Youcubed.org that infuse growth mindset into class expectations and norms.

Stanford University PERTS Center developed a teacher toolkit that has a plethora of information about ways to embed growth mindset into class expectations and routines.

Youcubed.org has some classroom norm posters (Positive norms to set up your class for growth mindset) and information on their website located at https://www.youcubed.org/resource/growth-mindset/