Grade 9 English Day 1: Grit, Mindset & Starting Strong

Grade 9 English Day 1

Day 1 in Grade 9 English lays the groundwork for a successful year. This lesson plan starts with a welcome and course overview, meets students through a “Getting to Know You” activity, and then builds momentum with Angela Lee Duckworth’s TED Talk on grit. Students will then begin the “Journey from Fixed to Growth Mindset” lesson—setting the tone for an empowering learning culture grounded in effort, adaptability, and deep understanding.

Day 1 Lesson Flow

  1. Greet Students & Welcome (10 minutes)
    Warm introductions and a brief orientation to the year ahead.

  2. Course Overview (15 minutes)
    Share themes, units, outcomes, assessment, and resources.

  3. Community-Building Activity (20 minutes)
    Students complete the professional “Getting to Know You” handout and optionally share in small groups.

  4. Viewing & Discussing the TED Talk: Grit by Angela Lee Duckworth (15 minutes)
    This talk explores the power of passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It introduces students to essential attitudes for academic success and personal growth.
    (Consider showing the video or providing a link in advance.)

  5. Begin: A Journey from Fixed to Growth Mindset Lesson Plan (30 minutes)
    Use this lesson (from Teachers‑Blog) that guides students through self-assessment, reflection, and interactive activities to explore and shift from a fixed to a growth mindset 

  6. Wrap-Up & Transition (10 minutes)
    Have students reflect on one takeaway, question, or personal goal inspired by the session; preview what tomorrow will build upon.

Lesson Rationale & Context

  • Grit Talk: Angela Duckworth’s concept of grit emphasizes that perseverance and sustained passion significantly impact student potential. This helps students see effort and persistence as vital to success.

  • Growth Mindset Lesson: The lesson A Journey from Fixed to Growth Mindset enables students to introspect on their own beliefs about ability and learning and practice reframing limiting thoughts into empowering ones. You can complete some or all of this activity, depending on your needs.

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