Student Success

Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

• ​Having a Growth Mindset is the foundation of learning. Please click on the links below to learn more about what it means to have a growth mindset.

You Can Learn Anything

Fixed and Growth Mindsets

Growth Mindset: What It Is; How It Works; Why It Matters

​What Can You Do?

As your child's parent, the way we talk about learning has an impact on your child's mindset.

• Don't Praise: intelligence or abilities

• Do Praise: the process and efforts​

What Can You Say?

• Instead of "This is too hard!" ... try, "This may take some time."

• Instead of "I'm not good at this." ... try, "What am I missing?"

• Instead of "I give up!" ... try, "I'll use another strategy."

• Instead of "I made a mistake." ... try, "Mistakes help me learn."

• Instead of "I can't do this." ... try, "I am going to train my brain."

• Instead of "I will never be that smart." ... try, "I will learn how to do this."

Mindfulness

Mindfulness

• We are learning to be mindful in our class!

• We will be focusing on 3 parts of the brain (Pre-frontal Cortex, Amygdala and Hippocampus); their function and roles play a part in our decision making and ability to focus. If our body and brain is not calm (our amygdala) we are unable to make reasonable decisions by accessing information in our hippocampus then the information is not sent to our pre-frontal cortex.

• Mindfulness is being aware of what is going on around us, and how that helps us make good, reasonable decisions. Making mindful choices is about stopping and thinking before reacting. By being mindful of what is going on around us we can make good decisions.

Mindfulness Strategies

• Take slow, controlled deep breaths before starting a new task/after a transition. This will help the body and mind to refocus.

• "Mindful Minutes" (as a transitional activity) where students sit silently and listen to what is going on around them.

• Use of language "mindful listening and reacting" by "stopping and thinking" before reacting.

• Create and use a glitter jar. As you turn the jar upside down, focus on the gentle movement of the glitter.

• Engage in some heartbeat exercises for one minute (e.g., jump up and down). After a minute place hand to heart and pay attention to the heartbeat and breathing.

• Tense and release. Start with your feet and move up the body - squeeze your muscles tightly together for 5 seconds and then release.