Celebrating a growth mindset at Aviano Elementary
AVIANO, Italy – In the K/1 Split Classroom, taught by the 2026 DoDEA Americas Teacher of the Year and Paraprofessional, Ms. Tatiyona Moten, the students embarked on an exciting learning journey about what it means to have a Growth Mindset—the belief that abilities can develop through effort, strategies, and perseverance. This mindset is essential not only for academic success but also for building confidence, resilience, and a love of learning.
Learning the Power of “YET!”
To introduce the concept, students listened to the beloved story Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae. As we read together, students noticed how the main character, Gerald, initially believed he couldn’t dance like the other animals. However, through encouragement and a shift in thinking, Gerald discovered that he simply wasn’t able to dance yet—a powerful reminder that growth takes time, practice, and the right mindset.
Students eagerly shared moments in the story where Gerald demonstrated persistence. They connected his experience with their own challenges, recognizing that adding the word “yet” transforms a limitation into an opportunity.
Sorting Growth Mindset Characteristics
After the story, students worked with a partner to explore real-life examples of Growth Mindset thinking. Each pair received a set of statements and discussed whether each one reflected:
- Growth Mindset, or
- Not a Growth Mindset
They placed these statements on a class chart, fostering rich conversations such as:
- “If I say I’m not good at math yet, I can keep trying.”
- “Giving up right away doesn’t help me grow.”
Students practiced reasoning, collaboration, and communication as they sorted, debated, and justified their choices.
