You know that moment during math when a student sighs and groans, “I’m just not good at this”?
It’s heartbreaking.
And that’s exactly where the growth mindset work begins.
If you’re using my math motivational posters in your classroom, you’re already planting the seeds. But if you want those phrases to stick—and actually mean something—you’ll need to weave mindset moments into your daily math block.
So let’s talk about what that actually looks like in your classroom. With real students. And not a lot of extra time.
Start with How You Talk About Mistakes
When a student gets the wrong answer, your response matters more than you think.
Instead of rushing to correct them, try:
➡️ “Tell me more about how you got that answer.”
➡️ “Let’s figure this out together.”
➡️ “That’s an interesting strategy. Let’s test it and see if it works.”
You’re modeling curiosity.
You’re sending the message that thinking matters just as much as getting it “right.”
💡 Teacher Tip: Keep a sticky note by your small group table with a few go-to phrases so you’re not tempted to jump in and fix things too quickly.
Give Students Language to Talk About Their Thinking
If your students are used to feeling shut down by math, they might not even know how to start talking about what they’re doing.
Use sentence starters to help:
🗣️ “I’m noticing…”
🗣️ “I used to think… but now I think…”
🗣️ “I made a mistake because…”
🗣️ “My brain got stuck when…”
These might feel clunky at first, but once students start using them, they’ll have the tools to reflect and to keep trying. Which is the whole goal.
Normalize the Struggle
Every year, there’s at least one unit that sends your whole class into math meltdown. (Looking at you, long division. 😬)
Don’t be afraid to say, “This part is hard. It’s supposed to be hard. That’s how we grow.”
Post your motivational posters at eye level around the room. Refer to them in the moment:
➡️ “Remember what our poster says? Mistakes help me grow.”
➡️ “Your brain is growing right now.”
💡 Teacher Tip: Use a little dry erase easel and write one growth mindset quote or question of the day, then refer to it throughout math time.
Celebrate Math Growth, Not Just High Scores
It’s easy to cheer when a student aces a quiz. But what about when a student finally gets regrouping after weeks of practice?
Start celebrating these wins out loud:
🎉 “Last week this was tricky for you, and now you’ve got it!”
🎉 “You didn’t give up, and look what happened.”
🎉 “You asked for help and used what you learned! Go you!”
💡 Teacher Tip: Keep a “Math Wins” chart or journal. Let students add sticky notes when they overcome something they’ve been stuck on.
Remind Them: Smart is Something You Become
It’s easy for students to look at a classmate and think, “Well, they’re just good at math.”
But we want them to understand that being “good at math” is about persistence.
Keep saying things like:
📣 “You’re learning.”
📣 “You’re trying new strategies.”
📣 “You’re sticking with it.”
Because math confidence isn’t built by getting everything right. It’s built when kids start to believe they can.
Whether you’re in the middle of a tough unit or just trying to get through the post-lunch slump, you can help your students shift their mindset…one moment at a time.
🧠 Growth takes practice.
💬 The way we talk about math matters.
🙌 And your encouragement might be the exact thing a student needs to keep trying today.
If you haven’t grabbed your free Math Motivational Posters yet, make sure you do! Print them out, hang them up and use them as part of your everyday conversations during math time.
