In room 19 we have started off the year learning about how we can have a growth mindset and how we can be the best learners we can be. So what is a growth mindset?

A growth mindset can really affect your learning and your life. Having a growth mindset means having a positive outlook on challenges and pushing yourself. This can really make an impact on your learning as your best work usually comes out of this.

Having a fixed mindset, people believe their qualities are fixed traits and therefore cannot change. These people document their intelligence and talents rather than working to develop and improve them. They also believe that talent alone leads to success, and effort is not required.

People with a growth mindset have a belief that their learning and intelligence can grow with time and experience. According to Carol Dweck, who began looking into fixed and growth mindsets, when a student has a fixed mindset, they believe that their basic abilities, intelligence, and talents are fixed traits.

Having a growth mindset has a big impact on the way you think. The way you have a growth mindset is you being in control of your own learning. If you have a positive mindset while you are working that is you being in control of your learning and having a growth mindset. A fixed mindset also has a very big impact on how we learn. Having a fixed mindset means that you are not up to a challenge or do not want to take a risk. It stops you from trying new things and exploring new challenges. Overall, having a growth mindset will help you overcome new tasks and try new things.

Having a fixed mindset means not stretching yourself in your learning – you are reluctant to stretch learning. A fixed mindset is not a good mindset to have as your best work never comes out of this.

We encourage students at Woodend to have a growth mindset as it benefits them and their learning. Please talk through this with your children and ask them what they know about it, as they will hear a lot of this in 2020.

Written by, Ashton, Hailey, Georgia and Jess C of Room 19 Year 6/7

How can parents support children to develop a growth mindset?

  • You phrases that are positive. Instead of ‘I can’t do this’ we say “I can’t do this YET!”
  • Make space and allow for failure to be ok. FAIL = First Attempt In Learning
  • Focus on the progress and the steps taken during a task and not just on the final result
  • If something isn’t working or a problem can’t be solved, try a different strategy and see if that helps.

Watch the video below to get more information