Coming Up - Yr 9 Growth Mindset
Parent Information
Our Year 9 students are currently learning about the Growth Mindset advantage during Term 2 Connect sessions.
Over thirty years of research suggests that a growth mindset has a positive effect on student academic performance and motivation levels. Students are more likely to want to learn when they believe they will succeed if they apply reasonable effort.
To find out more about the research behind the lessons and the Growth Mindset advantage, please watch the following 11min Tedx video: The Power of Belief – Mindset and Success:
During their first lesson on Monday 2nd May, Year 9 students learnt how to identify between fixed and growth mindsets and the impact a growth mindset can have on their achievement and motivation, particularly during challenging situations. They also learnt that mindset can be changed and were able to identify strategies to develop a growth mindset.
Mindset can be changed by:
· Understanding that the brain is like a muscle, and grows stronger with use
· Emphasizing our effort over final outcomes
· Seeing challenging activities as fun
· Understanding that mistakes are valuable and a part of learning
Student Reflections from Lesson 1:
I learnt what a growth mindset consisted of and how I can become a better learner: Nadine Robinson-Danckert 9E
I learnt that it doesn’t matter if you have a fixed or growth mindset because you can always change: Emmie Kolobaric 9A
Praise – How We Can Help
As teachers and parents, we can help support a growth mindset by praising for effort rather than perceptions of intelligence. Students can learn either a fixed or growth mindset based upon the type of praise they receive. Giving praise for intelligence such as “You must be smart at this” fosters a fixed mindset, whereas giving praise for effort such as “You must have worked hard at this” fosters a growth mindset. Praising students for their engagement, effort, strategies, choices and persistence fosters hardy motivation. When students are praised for their effort we are telling them it’s okay to risk making mistakes, and allows students to see themselves in control of their success.
To read more about praise, please see the attached article: The Perils and Promises of Praise - Dweck, C. S. (2007).
In future lessons students will learn how the brain learns new information and the importance of effort in learning. They will be able to explain how we can improve our intelligence and describe how they can use the growth mindset advantage at school, in friendships/relationships and at home.
In summary,
· Students who foster a growth mindset have improved motivation in school, value learning and can increase academic performance
· Teaching students a growth mindset gives them the confidence to believe that with hard work, perseverance and effort they can improve.
· A growth mindset allows students to be more resilient when encountering challenges, setbacks and the many rigorous learning opportunities presented to them
· Praising children for their effort rather than intelligence can lead to long-term positive effects on student achievement.