Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset

To begin the year we have been talking about the difference between a fixed and growth mindset.

Mindsets are beliefs about yourself and your most basic qualities. Think about your intelligence, your talents, your personality. Are these qualities simply fixed traits, carved in stone and that’s that? Or are they things you can grow throughout your life?

We started by writing down in red pen something we feel we can not do, or are not good at. We discussed what the red pen symbolizes, which for most people is the colour people use to mark something incorrect.

We then looked at the two different mindsets.

Fixed mindset

Refers to the belief that our basic qualities (intellegience and skills) are fixed traits which can not be changed. The way the students feel about their comment is a fixed mindset approach. People with a fixed mindset believe they are born with whatever smarts or talents they have and if your not good at something naturally you can’t develop it much.

Growth mindset

People with a growth mindset, see their qualities as things that can be developed through their dedication and effort. They’re happy if they’re brainy or talented, but that’s just the starting point. They understand that no one has ever accomplished great things without years of passionate practice and learning.

 

We then brainstormed some words people might use and say to themselves if they have a fixed mindset. These sayings are often negative and make us feel sad and sometimes even angry.

Mrs. Baldwin explained that it is ok to make mistakes and they are important to make because that shows we are learning and challenging ourselves. The key is we need to be persistent and patient and never give up. This is the only way our brain will continue to grow and allow us to the best possible versions of ourselves.

 

Next we got our phrases we wrote in red pen and ripped them up because when we have a growth mindset we will achieve whatever it is that we write down, we just need to keep trying and be persistent!

 

We have been watching a series of videos on the Class Dojo site that have explained to us about growth mindset. Check the first episode out here!

We created a display where we worked in groups to decide what we could do if a negative thought enters our mind when trying to do something. These look fantastic in our classroom.


Mrs Baldwin also amazed us with how everybody makes mistakes and has challenges in their lives including famous people. We watched a video that showed us how some people who are now very successful and famous, once struggled and had failures in their life. Check out some of them here…

Imagine a world without Harry Potter, Dr Seuss or even the taste of KFC chicken!

Why do you think it is important to have a growth mindset?

What words or phrases can you say to yourself when you are stuck or make a mistake?

Can you give an example when you have made a mistake and never gave up until you succeeded? How did you feel?

8 thoughts on “Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset

  1. Dear Mrs Baldwin,
    I think it is good to have a growth mindset because then you won’t give up and you can achieve things.

    I think you can say I can’t do it yet,I can always improve, i’ll keep trying.

    I tried to do a back hand spring and I kept trying and now I can do one.

    Bye Mrs Baldwin from Lucena

    1. Dear Lucena,
      Great.
      Keep trying and learning.
      XX
      Opa and Oma from the Netherlands
      (grandfather and grandmother)

  2. Dear Mrs Baldwin
    For me I think it’s important to have a growth mindset because if you keep saying positive things you become better at the subject that you don’t get that much.

    Let’s keep trying and don’t give up because if I give up it means I have a fixed mindset and I’ll start saying Fixed mindset Words.

    When I made a mistake by tripping over and getting up and I felt happy when everyone started clapping.
    From Harrison

  3. Dear Mrs Baldwin
    It is important to have growth mindset because we would like to achieve our goals.
    and stay positive.

    Look at those people who are working hard and follow them.
    A fixed mind set is not being able to get they goals.
    From Laksmon

  4. Dear miss Baldwin

    I think it is good to have growth-mindset because you achieve more things.

    If you have growth mind set say stuff like this I can do this and if you don’t have growth
    mind set you give up on your self.

    Its just like when you miss a goal in soccer but you keep trying and you succeed.

    From Lara 😜

  5. Dear Mrs Baldwin
    I think it is important to have a Growth Mindset so you can’t give up because if you do you’ll never be able to do it if you don’t try.

    You can say to yourself that your really close to doing the thing you want to do it.

    Lets say you hurt yourself and you don’t want to get up but you do and you happy that everyone is clapping.
    From Constantina

  6. Dear Mrs Baldwin,
    I think it is important to have a growth mindset because you can achieve more things.

    You can say to yourself I’ll keep trying to achieve my dream i can do this just keep trying.

    When i couldn’t do my aerial i keep trying and said i can do this and i finally did.
    From Matilda🐶😃

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