Principal Chat

Dear Families,

I hold a strong opinion that one of the most powerful gifts we can give children is the belief in themselves to know and understand that their abilities and intelligence can grow with effort, practice, and learning. This “growth mindset” encourages young people to see challenges as opportunities, embrace mistakes as a natural part of learning, and recognise that persistence pays off.

Knitting with Miss Matilda’s Kids Teach Kids lesson certainly provided the students with a challenge to persist and persevere with! It was a new and challenging skill to learn and try out and it certainly was interesting to observe the varying levels of persistence and perseverance across the cohort of students and the behaviours and actions that were displayed when faced with a challenging skill.

Parents and educators play a vital role in shaping this mindset. In the classroom, educators continually support growth by offering immediate, specific feedback that focuses on effort and the development of skills. For example, rather than simply praising a correct answer, a teacher might highlight the thoughtful steps a student took to solve a problem or the persistence they showed in working through a difficult task. This targeted feedback helps children see the value in their approach and their determination, not just the final result.

Educators also foster growth mindset by modelling lifelong learning, providing opportunities for students to reflect on their progress, encouraging them to set goals, and creating an environment that celebrates curiosity. Conversations about what was learned from a challenging experience, or how perseverance led to improvement, help reinforce the idea that skills develop over time.

Books, hobbies, and practical experiences are wonderful ways for children to explore new areas and stretch themselves, both at home and at school. When children see others persevering through challenges in stories or revisit a hobby until they master a new skill, they gain a firsthand understanding of growth. Sharing these moments and talking about progress, not just results, helps nurture confidence and a willingness to keep learning.

Encouraging children to adopt this positive and flexible approach sets them up for academic success, but more importantly, prepares them to navigate an ever-changing world with optimism and determination.

I am looking forward to the rest of the Kids Teach Kids lessons in the coming weeks. Lindsay taught us how to play a game of kick tennis which was fun and some of the students continued playing it into lunch. Matilda’s lesson was well planned and structured, and she introduced the lesson like an expert! There were quite a few students who took their knitting home to practice and keep trying to develop their skills of knitting.

Next week we are having a visit from Harry the palaeontologist to teach us about fossils and dinosaurs and Elise with be teaching us a new skill - some jiujitsu moves!

Hannah Crawford

Principal

Niangala Public School