Believe in Yourself

Student confidence and social emotional learning (SEL) impact learning and life. Students who believe in themselves and their abilities try harder, achieve more, and contribute to their learning communities.

For many students, the fear of failure is paralyzing. Rather than risking the “wrong” answer, students avoid opportunities for growth and learning. Students need supportive learning communities that embrace mistakes as a part of the learning process. Mind Missions use real-world examples highlighting the difficulties of finding functional solutions. Lessons include collaborative problem-solving opportunities that embrace setbacks as an important part of the design process. 

Students must work together and offer their unique talents to achieve their mission. While working collaboratively, students discover important life strategies and grow as confident individuals. The Mind Missions framework encourages ongoing practice in devising, testing, and reflecting on solution success. This process emphasizes the importance of setbacks and collaborative input in solution design. Try a fail-forward learning opportunity with a free Mind Missions lesson. 

Social-Emotional learning (SEL)

Social and Emotional Learning is the process through which children acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Through direct instruction and opportunities for practice, Mind Missions lessons encourage critical social-emotional growth. Students build self-awareness, self-management, perseverance, and social skills. 

How do Mind Missions encourage confidence and social emotional growth?

Direct Instruction

Problem Solving Practice

Critical thinking skills for future success

Reflect and Grow

Grow through Reflection in Elementary Social Studies

Students receive direct instruction in problem-solving and design thinking. These processes help students to learn from setbacks. The processes nurture a growth mindset. 

Each Mind Missions lesson includes an open-ended problem-solving challenge. Solutions are not easy. Mistakes and redesign are a part of the process. Student teams grow and learn. 

Reflection prompts give students the time to stop, process, and grow. Students realize that perfection is not required. Mistakes are a part of learning. Confidence comes from cooperation.

Ready to get started teaching collaboration, critical-thinking, communication, & creative problem solving in your classroom?