"One With The Dog"

Some students do not recognize when they are filled with negative self-talk. For example, when learning a  new math skill, they become instantly frustrated if they don't fully understand the concept right away. And they say,  "I'll never figure this out", or "This is too hard." If I am working one-on-one with the student, I can ask strategic questions that will guide him through the skill, helping him to process the information, connect to background knowledge, and understand the new concept being introduced. This student needs to learn to change his self talk from, "I'll never figure this out" to "What do I understand about this math problem? Let me read the problem again. What information is provided?", etc. He needs to ask himself questions in order  to independently  process the information, connect to background knowledge, and acquire the new skill without the assistance of the teacher. Essentially, the student needs to learn how to learn, and to enjoy the learning process.

When students are filled with this negative self talk, I like to work with them in small groups and role play situations that will present opportunities to react with either a "Growth Mindset" or a "Fixed Mindset". I  found  a great resource to use with these small groups. I bought Growth Mindset Reading Passages from Teachers Pay Teachers, and I've found the passages to be helpful. Together, we read the passages, discuss the characters, setting, and problem. In the small group setting, the students are able to identify positive reactions to situations the characters face. Then when I work with the students in the general  education classroom, I can use these stories as a connection to encourage self-reflection and generalization from the ESE resource classroom (small group setting) to the general education classroom setting.