7 Mindsets

7 Mindsets is a web-based program that teaches students the skills needed to master social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies. The 7 Mindsets are Everything Is Possible, Passion First, We Are Connected, 100% Accountable, Attitude of Gratitude, Live to Give, and The Time Is Now. After choosing their students' grade level (elementary, middle, or high school), teachers select one of several courses, which is typically an introduction, practice, or evaluation. Each course has 7-10 units, which have 1-4 lessons in each unit. Each lesson has a print-and-go lesson plan and provides the objective, a list of necessary materials, and a full script to go along with the web-based presentation. Some of the lessons also have videos embedded. A teacher typically implements the lessons in a lecture-style format and asks questions of the students. Students can respond in pairs, in small groups, or in front of the entire class. They may also be able to complete activities together (e.g., creating a classroom poster) and put what they've learned into practice (e.g., sharing materials and giving compliments), but these are typically extension activities.

7 Mindsets also has a community dashboard for educators to dive into the implementation guide, which gives a scope and sequence for implementing the program (from getting staff buy-in to overall program evaluation). A Parent Zone provides newsletters for families as well as activities to complete at home, in addition to presentations that could be delivered at a parent night. A Professional Development center has self-paced or facilitated PD opportunities and lets educators explore their own core beliefs. A Leadership Zone has resources to assist in implementing 7 Mindsets school-wide. Staff can also elect into Mindsets University training conferences, which are held annually in varying locations. Finally, the Resource Hub houses additional content, like icebreaker activities, games, books, blogs, extra lessons, and more. 

7 Mindsets does a great job of defining 10 SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships skills, decision-making, resilience, growth mindset, empathy, sense of purpose, and hope. It also helps students put them into practice. Teachers who love print-and-go lessons will appreciate the structured nature of the curriculum. From the student perspective, the lessons are thought-provoking and informative. However, because the overall layout of the lessons (i.e., sit and get, whole-group instruction, group rotations) appears to be similar week after week, some students may find it repetitious. The lessons suggest breaking up student responses into either a think-pair-share group or into small groups with one facilitator. However, the overall lesson layout still requires students to listen to a prompt, discuss it, and return their attention back to a lecture-based model. There are some suggestions for follow-up activities, like having students create a classroom poster together at the end of the lesson, which students will enjoy, but this requires extra time and materials. It would be nice if students were able to achieve guided or independent practice, instead of simply discussing the content with their peer group or with the teacher.

Even if the layout feels redundant, the content is excellent for student and adult learning. 7 Mindsets offers a Resource Hub, Parent Center, Leadership Zone, professional development, and Mindsets University conferences, which truly lay out the scope and sequence of the program in a way that's structured and achievable without becoming overwhelming. Educators, parents, and students alike will enjoy the depth of content as well as the organized way in which the material is presented.