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In Other Words: Phrases for Growth Mindset: A Teacher's Guide to Empowering Students through Effective Praise and Feedback
Learn how to effectively bring growth mindset into your community and classroom by choosing impactful language.From the authors of the bestselling The Growth Mindset Coach, this handy companion is a must-have if you want to empower students through purposeful praise and feedback. Here are the key strategies, helpful tips and go-to phrases for helping students transition thoughts, words and actions into the growth-mindset zone.Designed for ease of use and packed with over a hundred specific examples, this book offers a “say this, not that” approach to communication that will help you model and cultivate growth mindset in the classroom. For Fixed • You’re so smart.• You’re wrong.Growth • l like how you used different strategies to figure out these problems.• That didn’t work out for you. How could you approach the problem differently?
145 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
73 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 6, 2018
It was a quick, easy read, which is refreshing given that a lot of professional development books can be a tough slog, but as a result it doesn't go into much depth on any of the topics it covers. If you are new to Growth Mindset, this book won't give you enough for a proper understanding and if you have already been learning about Growth Mindset, it won't tell you anything you haven't heard before. It might be useful to those who have had an introduction to GM, but need help learning how I express GM properly in their classes.
December 27, 2018
I like this little book, and I like how it's organized into five sections: self-talk, teacher to student communication, peer to peer communication, school to home communication, and whole-school mindset. I have always said that our inner monologue can be helpful or harmful based on what we tell ourselves again and again; the lesson in this book certainly support this idea.
I know that growth mindset is the new buzz phrase (well, new for the last three years or so), but this book provides concrete suggestions, activities, and ideas to use with students, colleagues, and family to promote growth mindset. I completely connected to the art example (the last reference in the book). I expect a few of the examples in this book will anger some, particularly those about copying homework, failing tests, and not following rules, but I hope we consider the suggestions (even if we choose not to follow them) in order to examine how we teach and interact (is it more punitive than focused on learning?).
I think all teachers in my school should take the silo quiz on page 130 and then have discussions about the entire chapter on peer to peer communication!
I know that growth mindset is the new buzz phrase (well, new for the last three years or so), but this book provides concrete suggestions, activities, and ideas to use with students, colleagues, and family to promote growth mindset. I completely connected to the art example (the last reference in the book). I expect a few of the examples in this book will anger some, particularly those about copying homework, failing tests, and not following rules, but I hope we consider the suggestions (even if we choose not to follow them) in order to examine how we teach and interact (is it more punitive than focused on learning?).
I think all teachers in my school should take the silo quiz on page 130 and then have discussions about the entire chapter on peer to peer communication!
March 29, 2026
This isn’t a bad book I just think it’s kind of pointless for an entire book. After the first section I could infer everything the rest of the book said. To me it’s common knowledge but I guess some people haven’t really thought about their mind. It focuses on the two mindsets, growth and fixed, and how they are used in the classroom. There are A LOT of examples which is very handy because you can compare the interactions in the book to what you do in real life to see where you’re at and where you need to go.
My rating might be sort of biased because my dream college mailed it to me along with my scholarship money. I think I’m allowed to enjoy it more because of that.
Some quotes that stood out to me:
“It’s not ‘I can’t’, it’s ’I can’t yet’” (pg 37).
I was taught this in middle school and I’ve used this saying all the time. I think it’s a good way to not let you feel down from mistakes ykwim.
“…one wolf is evil… The other wolf is good… are at battle within all people… ‘which wolf wins?’… ‘the one you feed’” (pg 50).
People who brag about being mean or being a hater have awful lives because they surround themselves with a bad mindset. The reason your life is so miserable is because you’re not allowing you or other people to be happy or enjoy things.
“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong” - Peter T. McIntyre (pg 58).
A good way to look at things since I’m trying to improve my confidence.
“Get students used to the idea of working toward a goal, not a grade” (pg 101).
Focus more on what the student has learned. Compare them to themselves and not to other students. Everyone learns/works at different levels so I feel like it’s useless to compare them to another classmate because both students have their own lives. Grades compare a student to another student but focusing on their effort compares the student to themselves.
My rating might be sort of biased because my dream college mailed it to me along with my scholarship money. I think I’m allowed to enjoy it more because of that.
Some quotes that stood out to me:
“It’s not ‘I can’t’, it’s ’I can’t yet’” (pg 37).
I was taught this in middle school and I’ve used this saying all the time. I think it’s a good way to not let you feel down from mistakes ykwim.
“…one wolf is evil… The other wolf is good… are at battle within all people… ‘which wolf wins?’… ‘the one you feed’” (pg 50).
People who brag about being mean or being a hater have awful lives because they surround themselves with a bad mindset. The reason your life is so miserable is because you’re not allowing you or other people to be happy or enjoy things.
“Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong” - Peter T. McIntyre (pg 58).
A good way to look at things since I’m trying to improve my confidence.
“Get students used to the idea of working toward a goal, not a grade” (pg 101).
Focus more on what the student has learned. Compare them to themselves and not to other students. Everyone learns/works at different levels so I feel like it’s useless to compare them to another classmate because both students have their own lives. Grades compare a student to another student but focusing on their effort compares the student to themselves.
April 18, 2019
It must be said that the book is much more thorough than the table of contents would lead one to believe.
In some ways we are all teachers and students of our own lives, so whether or not you have a classroom full of young minds or if you simply have one or two kids at home, the book has many tools and tips to show you how the way we "encourage" or praise these young minds can affect their abilities to push through when learning gets tough.
I feel this book is really great for parenting too. You know that old saying … "Practice makes perfect"? Ya well, that's not a good thing really because sometimes practice DOES NOT make perfect and when you've worked really hard and still suck at, let's say "math", that can be really frustrating and lead to just not trying anymore at all. I like the incorporation of affirmations. I've been trying to use those already with my kids and even some of my adult friends who've been struggling with different issues.
In any case, 4 out of 5 stars since this book does seem appropriate for both teachers, parents and shoot, just basically anyone trying to become a "happier" person.
In some ways we are all teachers and students of our own lives, so whether or not you have a classroom full of young minds or if you simply have one or two kids at home, the book has many tools and tips to show you how the way we "encourage" or praise these young minds can affect their abilities to push through when learning gets tough.
I feel this book is really great for parenting too. You know that old saying … "Practice makes perfect"? Ya well, that's not a good thing really because sometimes practice DOES NOT make perfect and when you've worked really hard and still suck at, let's say "math", that can be really frustrating and lead to just not trying anymore at all. I like the incorporation of affirmations. I've been trying to use those already with my kids and even some of my adult friends who've been struggling with different issues.
In any case, 4 out of 5 stars since this book does seem appropriate for both teachers, parents and shoot, just basically anyone trying to become a "happier" person.
July 16, 2018
This book has concrete examples of fixed and growth mindset thinking and ideas of how to shift from the former to the latter. While certainly not the be-all or end-all of one’s growth-mindset research, this text is a good resource.
August 1, 2018
Highly recommend this book for anyone that works with children or has children (so basically everyone). It is concise and offers specific ways to implement a growth mindset into your school culture, teaching practice, and parenting. I will refer back to this text when redesigning my classroom!
August 5, 2018
LOVE all of Annie Brock and Heather Hundley's #GrowthMindset texts. Their latest did not disappoint. Concise & powerful, they focus on specifics of communication: self-talk, teacher-to-student, student-to-student, school-to-home, and whole school!
March 20, 2020
Growth in a book
Thank you for this book. It is helping me tailor my feedback to be geared toward a growth mindset. This is a must read to accompany other text discussing this topic.
Thank you for this book. It is helping me tailor my feedback to be geared toward a growth mindset. This is a must read to accompany other text discussing this topic.
May 26, 2018
What I'll remember the most: Say "I can't do that yet" not "I can't do that" The latter is a fixed mindset rather than a growth mindset.
January 11, 2019
Another great book in their collection about growth mindset. Has very actionable strategies that make it incredibly useful.
March 6, 2019
As a teacher, I find this book very pratical. I can apply what I learned from this book in my class. The effectiveness is great.
October 5, 2019
Organized for home and school ideas
August 25, 2020
Very quick read that teachers of all levels can benefit from. This book is filled with practical steps and tools to help create a Growth Mindset in all areas of education.
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January 23, 2023I thought it waa for everyone / parent, but i think it’s specific for teachers
May 11, 2020
This book should be required reading for teachers (and parents! ha!). The author provides great optional sayings to help children/learners/adults to move into the right mindset for learning, working together and moving forward toward goals. This book is a quick read, easy to keep on one's desk for quick reference. This would make a great gift to a teacher or parent or friend with children. Wow! What a world we would live in if we all used these statements with each other!
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April 26, 2019370.1523 B8641 2018
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews