Teaching Growth Mindset: WHy ‘Yet’ Is the Most Powerful Word
If you’ve ever heard a student say “I’m just not good at this,” or “I can’t do it,” or, my personal favorite, “Math is evil and I’m dropping out to become a YouTuber,” you’re not alone.
Whether you’re teaching preschoolers who think their glue stick is a snack, middle schoolers who believe one wrong answer means total failure, or adults trying to masted Excel while muttering “Why did I go back to school?” Under their breath, one thing is true across the board:
Mindset matters. A lot.
And when it comes to building resilience, confidence, and lifelong learning habits, there is one tiny word with massive power: YET.
What Is a Growth Mindset (and Why Should You Care)?
plant growing on the palm of a hand
A growth mindset, coined by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, strategies, and persistence. The opposite is a fixed mindset, the belief that you’re either good at something or you’re not, and there’s no changing it. (You know, like when someone says “I’m just not a math person,” as if math skills are a genetic trait passed down from your great aunt Ethel.)
Teaching students to say “I can’t do this…yet” changes everything. It opens the door to possibility, effort, and growth instead of slamming it shut with defeat.
The Power of ‘Yet’ at Every Age
In Early Childhood: “I can’t zip my coat!”
You haven’t truly lived until you’ve watched a three-year-old try to zip a jacket, fail, and immediately dissolve into dramatic despair.
Instead of rushing in to save the day (and the zipper), we say: “You can’t do it…yet.”
Then we coach:
✔️ “Let’s try again together”
✔️ “It’s okay to need practice”
✔️ “Even big kids need help sometimes”
Eventually, they zip it, beam with pride and shout “I did it!” so loudly you consider giving them a medal and a parade.
That’s growth mindset in action.
In Elementary School: “I’m the worst reader in the class”
Cue the pencil snap and face plant on the desk.
Elementary students are starting to compare themselves to peers, and when something is hard, it’s easy for them to believe it’s just not for them.
This is where “yet” becomes your best classroom assistant:
✔️ “You haven’t mastered long vowels yet”
✔️ You don’t understand fractions yet, but we’re getting there.”
✔️ You still haven’t turned in your homework…okay, that one’s not a mindset issue. But still.”
Normalize mistakes. Celebrate effort. Make “yet” the go-to answer when frustration creeps in.
Bonus: Put it on the wall, on their folders, even on your lanyard if you’re feeling extra. You’ll be surprised how often they repeat it back to you.
In Middle and High School: “I’m just not smart”
Teenagers. So dramatic, so sure of their limitations.
They’ll tell you who they are and what they can’t do with a level of finality usually reserved for Shakespearean tragedies:
“I’m not good at science”
“I’ll never pass this test”
“College isn’t for people like me”
This is the age where mindset becomes critical, because beliefs about intelligence, self-worth, and capability start to feel permanent.
Enter:
“You’re not there yet, but look how far you’ve come.”
Add in:
Goal setting
Progress tracking
Frequent reminders that struggle is part of learning
And always, always point out growth, not just achievement.
Because when teens realize they can get better at something, they’re unstoppable. (Okay, maybe not with laundry. But academically? Yes.)
In Adult Learners: “I’m too old for this”
Adult learners are the most relatable of all, because let’s face it, we’ve all been there.
Trying to learn a new skill after a long break (or for the first time ever) brings up all the insecurities. The wait between my Bachelor’s and my Masters was 10 years long, and frankly, having to answer to discussion posts by 20-something’s without classroom experience made me feel old and inadequate at times.
“I’ve never been good with technology” is one I hear often
“I can’t do this. My brain doesn’t work like it used to” is a popular go-to
“It’s too late for me” I hear this one from people who haven’t decided to start yet.
Spoiler: It’s all lies!
“Yet” becomes a lifeline for adults. It shifts the focus from where they’re not to where they could be.
Whether it’s getting a degree, learning English, or mastering PowerPoint without accidentally setting the font on fire, growth mindset keeps them going.
How to Teach Growth Mindset Without It Feeling Cheesy
Because yes, we all love the idea of growth mindset…but we also don’t want to turn our classrooms into motivational poster museums.
Here’s how to make it stick:
✔️ Model it: let students hear you say “I’m still learning how to use this app…I haven’t figured it out yet.”
✔️ Praise the process: Instead of, “You’re so smart,” say, “You worked really hard on that!” or “I saw you try three different strategies, amazing!”
✔️ Use real examples: Show stories of inventors, authors, athletes who failed a lot before succeeding. (Walt Disney was told he lacked creativity. The irony!)
✔️ Create safe spaces to fail: Mistakes should be a part of the routine, not something to fear. Growth mindset can’t grow in a room full of perfectionism.
✔️ Teach about the brain: Seriously. Show kids that their brains are actually capable of changing and growing. They eat that up.
Final Thoughts: ‘Yet’ Is Small but Mighty
“Yet” is one of those words that sneaks up quietly, slips into a sentence, and completely changes the tone.
“I don’t get it” becomes “I don’t get it yet” and “I’m not good at this” becomes “I’m not good at this yet.” See the difference? One closes a door, the other keeps it wide open.
So whether you’re zipping jackets, solving algebra equations, or fighting with Microsoft Excel at 10:00PM, remember: The struggle is real, but so is the growth.
You might not be there yet, but you will be.
