“Nous Sommes Capables!” Growth Mindset Activity

I always like to do this activity during the first week with my new students. It’s a great way to build community, offer time for chat amongst students and incorporate a mindset activity that reinforces kindness, care, compassion, self-confidence and teamwork.

I have been doing a morning affirmation with my class for several years. I adapted the affirmation from The Help into French.

We all say “Je suis gentil(le), je suis intelligent(e), je suis important(e) et nous sommes capables!” (I am kind, I am smart, I am important and we are capable).

At the beginning, I always have them repeat after me, but eventually we just all say it together.

It’s always nice to start with a growth/positive mindset book. Below I’ve included some French picture book suggestions. Of course, you can use any book you like!

Next we go over our affirmation and talk about what it means.

Then, each student gets a colouring sheet. They may colour it in any way they like. I encourage them to make it colourful but they can design it any way that speaks to them. I require them to colour the letters (somehow) but the background and border are optional. They may also draw things in the background.

Once completed, I take their picture. I usually like to do this outside so we get some green in the background but anywhere is fine. Should you have a student who is not comfortable with their photo being taken or is unable to stand and hold it like their peers, perhaps they can hold the sign out in front of them and you can snap a picture with just their hands holding it. This way they can still be part of the board.

Finally, once I have everyone’s picture, I put them all in PowerPoint. For sizing, I usually get 5 per page (landscape). 3 on the top, 2 sideways on the bottom. I add a text box and type their name into it. Then, I print the photos and put them around the words “Nous sommes capables!”. These are just letters from a teacher store, but you can certainly print letters instead. Alternatively, make one large sign that says “Nous sommes capables” and have students all work together to decorate it. Then, put their pictures around it.

Tip: I have stopped laminating the pictures (right). They get a lot of glare, and no one touches them so they don’t need to be laminated.