Are they like this because we, the adults, have not taught them that they need to strive, fail, learn, from failure, strive again – until they achieve?
Perhaps, one word can make a difference!
The difference that simple three letter word can make at the end of a sentence is profound. It acknowledges that we have not reached our potential but also acknowledges that we have not given up on achieving this goal.
Imagine how much more positive my attitude to myself and Mathematics would have been if, around Year 7, I had been wise enough to add the word YET to the statement,”I’m no good at Maths!”
YET is about an attitude that says, we can achieve if we keep trying instead of giving up and blaming:
Yet is the key to a philosophical construct known a “Growth Mindset”, made popular by Psychologist, Carole Dweck.
Over 30 years ago, Carol Dweck and her colleagues became interested in students’ attitudes about failure. They noticed that some students rebounded while other students seemed devastated by even the smallest setbacks. After studying the behaviour of thousands of children, Dr. Dweck coined the terms fixed mindset and growth mindset to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. When students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger. Therefore they put in extra time and effort, and that leads to higher achievement.
It would be easy to dismiss labels like Growth Mindset as another “fad”, if it were not supported by neuroscience.
Recent advances in neuroscience have shown us that the brain is far more malleable than we ever knew.These discoveries have shown us that we can increase our neural growth by the actions we take, such as using good strategies, asking questions, practicing, and following good nutrition and sleep habits.
Researchers are now coming to understand the link between mindsets and achievement. It turns out, if you believe your brain can grow, you behave differently.
Science can prove you are only as “dumb” as you choose to be. And you can stop yourself from being “smart” by deciding that you are too “dumb” to understand a concept, be a success at sport, pass a test or do well at school.
Real success depends on how you think about what you are doing. Success is not a permanent and fixed point that you cannot achieve. To be successful we need hard work, resilience, determination and most of all a belief that that you can do better – That makes all the difference!
According to Dweck there are two types of mindset:
Simply put, the fixed mindset puts the responsibility for success or failure on other people, circumstances, luck etc. The growth mindset sees the opportunity for success through effort.
We get to choose which mindset we adopt.
So how can we develop the positive mindset that can allow us to experience real success?
YET and the growth mindset are one of the keys to producing young adults who are capable of taking on a complex and ever-shifting world and succeeding.
So, knowing how powerful and effective the growth mindset is, we promote it to our students in word and deed.
Knowing how important this is, have we got it completely right?
We are not the best school in the state – YET!
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