Issue 03/ 07 March 2014
you the next concept, setting the question up as a real life example, or changing their study routine; most importantly discouraging them from simply holding the belief that they are not good at mathematics will help them to develop a growth mindset.
Middle & Senior School News
Inter-House Swimming Carnival Congratulations to all of the students for their wonderful participation and spirited competition at the Inter-House Swimming Carnival. A special congratulations is extended to Binging House; led by the House Captains, Dannielle Fisher and Jacob Desfosses (Senior School) and Emily Burnell and Jacob Morton (Middle School),on their hard-fought win, and to all of the competitors for their spirit, enthusiasm and participation. You were sensational!
Encouraging a Growth Mindset Parents and the College inherently want the same thing; for our children to do well and to be happy. We want our young people to continue to grow and learn in a caring environment where they can challenge themselves to do and be the best they can be in all their endeavours. There is a growing body of research that talks about the importance of developing a growth mindset. People with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work; brains and talent are just the starting point. This view of ‘mindset’ creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Research is continuing to show that if we can encourage this approach, motivation and enjoyment are improved and stress is reduced. As adults we can help children develop a growth mindset by offering more encouragement than praise and by focusing more on the effort than the result. Encouraging children to enjoy the process of learning helps them to develop a growth mindset. A growth mindset is linked to wellbeing and a willingness to take on challenges without looking at a result as simply a pass or fail but rather an opportunity to explore and grow. It has been reported that Thomas Edison tried over 1000 different materials for the filament of the electric light bulb. When asked about the ‘failures,’ Edison was quick to point out that there were not any failures because learning what materials did not work was just as valuable as learning what material did. Shielding young people from disappointment and failure is simply not possible nor is it ultimately in their best interest. My challenge to parents is to look at how Edison’s disposition about learning might come into the discussion at home the next time your child faces disappointment or perceived failure. Try to help your child reframe their thinking to see it as a learning experience. Encourage them to adopt a different approach and to generate alternate ways they can approach this challenge in the future. For instance, if they performed poorly in a mathematics test, they could try studying with a friend, attending tutorials, emailing or conferencing with their teacher, teaching
Sincere appreciation is extended to Mr Manion, the Grounds Staff and Sports Department team, and also to the staff and parent helpers for their assistance at the pool. It was great to see so many parents coming along to support their children. Age Champions are listed in the Sports Section.