Challenging Mindset

Create the right conditions for a growth mindset to flourish in your school and your students

Mindset doesn't matter when things are easy; it is only when faced with challenges that working from a growth mindset influences learning. But what is a 'growth mindset'? Why are mindset interventions not working in schools (yet)? What can be done to change this? Challenging Mindset answers key questions about Carol Dweck's theory of Mindset and shares proven strategies for putting mindset theory into practice. A nuanced understanding of mindset is critical for fostering a growth mindset in yourself, your classroom, and your students.

“"Wow. Each one of the books in the Learning Challenge series deepens my understanding of how to be a better teacher, leader, and parent. We have all read the research on the importance of having a growth mindset but here lies a complete guide with visuals, strategies, and explanations for how to make it come to life in the classroom."”

-- Julie Stern, Author, Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding "Nottingham and Larsson provide a much needed clarification of growth mindset, grounded in research and illustrated through relevant classroom examples. The authors provide practical tools and strategies to support educators in the correct application of mindset to impact student learning. A must read for all educators!" -- Cathy Lassiter, Author, Everyday Courage for School Leaders "James Nottingham and Bosse Larsson have the unique ability to activate the thinking of their readers by bridging the divide between research and practice. The "Now Try This" sections encourage readers to engage with heart, head, and hand to relate what they are learning to their current practices and to share those ides with colleagues. They have masterfully deepened our understanding of Carol Dweck's work and aligned her thinking to their work around The Learning Challenge." -- Julie Smith, Author, Evaluating Instructional Leadership "Mindset is a word that has been thrown around a great deal over the years. Unfortunately, most educators who use the word didn't understand the real context behind it. Nottingham and Larsson not only focus on the nuances of mindset, but offer practical strategies on how to use the research correctly so students can succeed! Challenging Mindset will be an important read for a very long time." -- Peter DeWitt, Ed. D., Author, Collaborative Leadership, Blogger, Finding Commong Ground "James Nottingham and Bosse Larsson offer an important and useful new addition to the ongoing conversation about mindset first introduced by Carol Dweck. Too often, theories such as mindset get reduced down to the simplest dichotomies and ideologies. Here, Nottingham and Larsson challenge our own mindset about the very idea of mindset theory itself, showing us what is possible if we really understand the theory and use it to challenge ourselves and our students." -- Jim Burke, Teacher and Author, Common Core Companion Series "Changing mindsets is hard - but if it can be done, the directions are throughout this wonderful book. The book talks about when, how, and where growth mindsets matter, and it brings a refreshing perspective to this important but often misunderstood notion." -- John Hattie, Laureate Professor Carlton, Victoria, AUS "Nottingham and Larsson's new book is accessible and inviting. It will help you navigate the world of mindset concepts and research, and focus on actions that can have high impact. I respect these authors and enjoyed the clarity and good humor they bring to their book-as will you. I highly recommend Challenging Mindset."

? -- Carol Dweck, Lewis & Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology

James Nottingham is co-founder and director of Challenging Learning, a group of companies with 30 employees in 6 countries. His passion is in transforming the most up-to-date research into strategies that really work in the classroom. He is regarded by many as one of the most engaging, thought-provoking and inspirational speakers in education.

His first book, Challenging Learning, was published in 2010 and has received widespread critical acclaim. Since then, he has written 6 books for teachers, leaders, support staff, and parents. These books share the best research and practice connected with learning; dialogue; feedback; the learning pit; early years education; and growth mindset.

Before training to be a teacher, James worked on a pig farm, in the chemical industry, for the American Red Cross, and as a teaching assistant in a school for deaf children. At university, he gained a first-class honours degree in education (a major turnaround after having failed miserably at school). He then worked as a teacher and leader in primary and secondary schools in the UK before co-founding an award-winning, multi-million-pound regeneration project supporting education, public and voluntary organisations across north east England.

Skolvarlden (Swedish Teaching Union) describes James as "one of the most talked about names in the world of school development" and the Observer newspaper in the UK listed him among the Future 500 - a "definitive list of the UK's most forward-thinking and brightest innovators."

Bosse Larsson is a Swedish teacher, trainer and concept developer. He has extensive experience developing creative thinking and learning with primary and secondary students, and is a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop leader.

He started working as a science teacher more than thirty years ago and has for over a decade been supporting secondary school dropouts and students with special educational needs.

Responding to many requests to share his ideas, Bosse began his own educational consultancy in 2007 . He is also a long-time consultant for Challenging Learning. Through this work, he aims to broaden, break and change thought-patterns about education, organisation and leadership. He still works part-time in local schools where he collaborates with teams in action learning cycles and individual teachers through lesson planning and giving feedback after lesson observations.

Bosse has given presentations, keynotes and led workshops both nationally and internationally, and has worked with staff training from pre-school to further education. The main themes of his work focus on creativity, future skills, thinking habits, thinking tools, Dweck's mindset, metacognition, motivation and feedback.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.