For many, returning to ‘normal life’ following a Christmas break can feel tough. My first working day involved a very early and dark journey to a school, and a dark journey home. Fortunately, the school was lovely and I had a great day, but there was much talk amongst the staff about the lack of daylight and how difficult it can be to stay motivated and positive during dark winter months.
I have never forgotten a conversation I had with my neighbour on a particularly cold and grey winter’s morning, when if I’m honest, I was having a very British moan about the dark months. He told me that February is his favourite month of the year, which totally baffled me. He went on to explain that February is the month in which you see the most change – at the beginning of the month it is dark, but by the end of February the lighter nights have arrived. I realised the need to change my ‘winter mindset’ from noticing the dark, to looking for the light.
Carol Dweck is a professor of Psychology who has written extensively about mindset and people’s approach to life and learning. She identified two different mindsets amongst the population:
People with a Fixed Mindset
- Believe ability is fixed and pre-determined from birth.
- Avoid taking on challenge in fear of looking stupid or failing.
- Stay within a comfort zone in order to avoid making mistakes.
People with a Growth Mindset
- Believe that ability is the result of effort and practice, and so can be changed over time.
- View mistakes as an opportunity to develop
- Are resilient and reflective about how they have learnt.
My first teaching job was in a state school on the Leeds/Bradford border, where the majority of children spoke English as an additional language and lived in areas of deprivation. I was constantly impressed by children who made great strides in their learning despite challenging circumstances. I now realise that the children thrived because of the challenges, and the strong growth mindset ethos in school that they could do anything if they worked hard enough. My second teaching job was in an academically selective private school where children’s experience of successful learning was always getting the answer right, and therefore being very ‘clever’. When these children were exposed to (appropriate) challenge, their confidence and motivation plummeted, and the children were reluctant to engage.
Research shows that mindsets are critical as they influence learning behaviours and outcomes for learners. Children with a growth mindset make better progress than children with a fixed mindset (Dweck 1999). However, evidence is emerging that even where learners have a fixed mindset, the brain has an incredible ability to grow and change within a really short period. Focusing on learning behaviours by building children’s confidence, resilience and motivation is therefore the key to successful learning.
So, how can parents support children to develop growth mindsets and look for the light when it feels dark? Noticing and shifting negative stereotypes, attitudes and phrases at home will make a huge difference to children’s outlook.
| Fixed Mindset | Growth Mindset |
| I can’t do that. | I can’t do that yet, but I can be much better if I keep trying |
| I’m so stupid. | I am struggling with that because I haven’t done enough practice yet |
| She’s so clever. | I wonder how much practice she does? I wonder what I could learn about how she does that? |
| I give up.
|
What can I do differently? |
| It’s too hard. | This is going to take some time. What else could I try? Who could I ask for help? |
| I’ve messed this up completely. | Everyone makes mistakes. What can I learn from this? |
| You are so clever.
|
It’s fantastic that you have learned that. |
| This is an amazing piece of work. | You have worked really hard and thought carefully about this work. |
| I know it is hard. Don’t worry, I never liked that at school either. | What strategies have you used so far? What else could you use to help? |
Student Navigator offers bespoke mentoring support for primary school children to develop positive learning behaviours and attitudes. Sessions are designed around the needs of the child to support them to develop strategies to cope with struggle, manage anxiety and build confidence to tackle challenge. Call us on 07399 779 739 or email us at info@studentnavigator.co.uk to book a place for your child.