Growth Mindset
Welcome to an exciting year in Room ???, where we will be embracing a 'Growth Mindset'! A growth mindset is all about understanding that the ability to learn is not fixed; it can improve with effort and perseverance. We want our students to know that their brains are like muscles that can be strengthened through hard work and determination, especially when tackling challenging problems.
This year, your child will discover that mistakes are valuable learning opportunities. We'll explore how perseverance and effort can lead to mastering new skills and knowledge. Our goal is to cultivate a strong work ethic that will enable students to grow and thrive.
We will encourage students to overcome any fears they may have about attempting difficult problems. It's okay to make mistakes—what matters is that they keep trying and learning from their experiences. Instead of comparing themselves to others, students will be inspired by their peers' successes and learn from them.
Accepting constructive criticism is a crucial part of growth, and we'll focus on viewing feedback as a way to improve and enhance their abilities. I'll be providing prompt and specific feedback on their work, both individually and as a class. Verbal feedback, given before, during, and after tasks, is a quick and effective way to help elementary students. Additionally, we'll use learning goals, success criteria, and rubrics to give students comprehensive feedback on their work.
Our emphasis will be on personal growth rather than grades. While I will be giving feedback, you won't see many tests or assignments with traditional marks. Instead, students will use feedback to set their own goals and strive for self-improvement. We want to move away from the mindset of working just to "get a good mark." Instead, we aim for students to be motivated by their own progress and achievements.
Marks can sometimes lead students to define themselves by their grades, which we want to avoid. A fixed mindset can develop when children believe their intelligence is unchangeable based on their grades. We want to encourage a growth mindset, where students understand that their abilities can improve with effort and perseverance.
If you ever have concerns about your child's progress or want to discuss their work, please feel free to contact me. I'm always here to support you and your child on this learning journey.
To help you understand and support the growth mindset at home, I've included some infographics and a video below. Let's work together to make this year a wonderful experience for our students!