Growth Mindset

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

What is Growth Mindset?

At Clifton-upon-Dunsmore Primary School, we know that pupils who have a positive attitude towards their learning will make good progress and be successful. Our school believes children and adults should be the best that they can be. We should stretch ourselves, challenge ourselves and expect more of ourselves as learners and as citizens. However, it is not easy. Subsequently, instilling all our pupils with 'growth mindsets' has become a key priority for our school. We want all our pupils to relish challenges, embrace their mistakes as part of the learning process, value the importance of effort, respond carefully to feedback and take inspiration from others. This will help them to achieve, thrive and have resilience, now and later in life. Having a growth mindset approach means that we do not give up!

Download our recent Growth Mindset Day Assmbly to find out what it's all about!

The following videos explain the concept of fixed or growth mindset in more detail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUWn_TJTrnU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CHPnZfFmU

How our school will promote a growth mindset:

We try to be the best we can possibly be
We encourage and celebrate mistakes – we can learn from them
We can learn from each other
We challenge ourselves and take risks
We will value and praise the amount of effort put in
We never give up – perseverance is the key if we are to succeed.

Our school’s aims:

We will develop high expectations
We will build confidence and self esteem
We will be less fearful of mistakes and failure
We will learn to use feedback in a positive way
We will take responsibility for our behaviours
Ultimately, we will equip our pupils with a love of learning and challenge through developing a growth mindset, equipping them with essential skills for the future.

How Can You Help At Home?

“The great news is, mindsets can be changed! Receiving GROWTH mindset messages at home will definitely help to further embed these beliefs in your child. If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning. That way, their children don’t have to be slaves of praise. They will have a lifelong way to build and repair their own confidence.” – Carol Dweck.

For further information on how to encourage confident and resilient learners at home, have a look at some of the links below: ·

https://www.mindsetworks.com/parents/growth-mindset-parenting https://www.oxfordlearning.com/growth-mindset-tips-for-parents/ ·http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/help-your-child-try-new-things https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk/article/using-praise-and-reward-with-children

Read aloud stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk7-6JLPMew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljirBIi1kME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DmJumrvPeY

If your child is going to gain all the benefits of a growth mindset, it is important that they are getting the same messages at home and at school. Sometimes, in trying to support the children that we love, we end up encouraging a fixed mindset.

How you can help your child to develop a Growth Mindset:

Challenge them to take risks
Avoid empty praise
Praise them for their effort, not their results
Encourage improvement, not perfection
Encourage them to not give up if they are finding something difficult
Model a growth mindset.

“Love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning.” Carol Dwek. We are very excited about the prospect of nurturing a growth mind-set ethos at Clifton upon-Dunsmore Primary School!