Growth Mind-Set

Welcome to the Growth Mindset page. Here, you will learn how to support positive attitudes towards learning and high self-esteem in children at home, just as we are doing in school.

This year we have continued our Growth mindset journey by looking at perseverance and determination.

What Is Growth Mindset?

The term ‘growth mindset’ refers to a way of thinking, learning and taking on challenges. A person with a growth mindset is open to constructive criticism, takes feedback and uses it, takes on new challenges, pushes themselves outside of their comfort zone and shows resilience and perseverance.

Studies show that it is people with a growth mindset (as opposed to a fixed mindset) who achieve in life, are successful in all they do and are happy. Of course, this is exactly what we want for all our children.

Dr Carol Dweck developed the idea that:

"In a fixed mindset, students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that's that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time.

In a growth mindset, students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. They don't necessarily think everyone's the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it.”

A person with a growth mindset will:

  • EMBRACE CHALLENGE;

  • have willpower and PERSEVERE;

  • show great EFFORT leading to great progress;

  • learn from FEEDBACK;

  • find inspiration in the SUCCESS OF OTHERS.

Our Journey

After being introduced to the concept of growth mindset, children participate in whole school worship based on key values linked to growth mind-set.

Teachers have a variety of stories to choose from, that focus on characters who display growth mindset or struggle with the concept at first. These stories can also be used across the curriculum.

Each class has completed activities from the book- ‘100 growth mindset lessons’ explaining the concept to children and introducing language.

Every class has a learning pit, a visual display that they can refer to throughout the day to keep them in a positive frame of mind and remind them to keep going when facing challenge. Motivational words are displayed in our learning environment.

Most importantly, teachers and pupils have embraced the language and the way of thinking that promotes using a growth mindset in all lessons.

Further information can be found on:

www.growthmindset.org

St Peters C of E Primary School, Birley St, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 9UR