Growth Mindset at Ryders Hayes
Senior Leaders, introduced to the concept of growth mindset by Carol Dweck herself, have since September 2014, been inspired to encourage pupils and staff to participate in a range of activities to learn more about it. Pupils and staff have identified their mindsets and look at how their brains work and how they can develop their mindsets to ones of growth.
It is important that pupils understand that new connections are formed in the brain when we try new things and practise them, over and over. Pupils have looked at famous and influential people who have failed many times in order to succeed due to having a growth mindset and not giving up on their goal. All pupils enjoy a six-week programme of growth mindset in the Autumn Term, building on what they already know. We have assemblies about growth mindset, but most importantly, teachers and pupils have embraced the language and the way of thinking that promotes using a growth mindset every minute of every day.
- We remember it’s always OK to make mistakes – we learn from them
- It’s good to struggle – this is often when we learn most!
- We never give up! We try a different approach, or use a different strategy
- We learn from each other – our pupils often make the best teachers!
- We don’t compare ourselves with others, but we do learn from others
- We challenge ourselves – which really helps us make progress
- We take risks – we don’t limit ourselves by taking the easy option
- We join in as much as possible – and we learn much more by being involved
- We remember that mastering something new feels so much better than doing something you can already do
- We remember that the brain is making new connections all the time – the only thing you need to know is that you can learn anything!
