Weekly Values Focus - Responsibility

Week 1 - Term 4: Footscray West students use a growth mindset 

At Footscray West, we use a growth mindset and resilience to help us learn, grow and become more confident. A growth mindset means understanding that we might not be able to do something yet, but with practice, effort and support, we can improve. Resilience helps us keep going when learning feels challenging or things do not go the way we planned. Learning is not always easy, and that is okay! Sometimes the things that challenge us the most are the things that help our brains grow the most.

We can use positive self-talk when something feels difficult. Instead of saying, “I can’t do this,” we can say, “I can’t do this yet,” or “I’m going to keep trying.” We can also embrace the learning pit. The learning pit is when we feel confused, stuck or challenged while learning something new. Showing resilience means staying calm, trying again and believing that we can work our way through the challenge. Imagine learning to ride a bike: you might wobble, fall or feel frustrated at first, but each attempt helps you improve.

Working hard does not always mean getting something right straight away. It means practising, trying different strategies and showing resilience when things become difficult. Productive struggle is when we are working on something that stretches our thinking without giving up. We can support each other too by encouraging our classmates and reminding them that mistakes are an important part of learning.

In the first week next term, let’s notice when we are using a growth mindset and showing resilience. When you find yourself in the learning pit, what positive self-talk could you use? What could you do if your first strategy does not work? 

Remember, small steps, effort and practice can make a big difference.