I have seen the posters. I have sat the assemblies. I have watched the ads telling us about growth mindsets and how to develop one, and I'm sure you have too. But what we don't do is apply it to ourselves to help benefit our lives, however, there is no reason to blame yourself.
The growth mindset is a deep topic that has many layers to it and is extremely important to have today. While we might blame other things on our weaknesses, it all links back to one thing – our mindset. To benefit our school every boy must acquire a growth mindset.
I'm not saying that boys aren’t getting told how to apply a growth mindset. It is that we do not understand how to efficiently apply it to ourselves using specific skills to achieve them. The growth mindset is crucial to a developing brain.
Many students at Toowoomba Grammar School are not applying a growth mindset with affects nearly everything in their school life from curricular to co-curricular. This is because at school we are not spending effective amounts of time learning how to achieve a growth mindset. While researching for this article I have asked many peers how to apply a growth mindset. Every single time I have gotten the same answer "I don’t know". This should not be the case. After all these assemblies, what has been the outcome?
There are many studies supporting the research on growth mindsets, and it is extremely important to developing minds. A study from Bernhard Schroeder showed that “People with a growth mindset will view challenges not as bad things but rather opportunities to benefit their learning”. Schroeder's research also showed that “With a growth mindset boys will learn from failing. For example, if you don’t reach a goal, you haven’t failed, you have learned”.
A growth mindset is a crucial element of modern life. We must apply better measures to ensure that students have a growth mindset.
How can we unlock the key to flourishing within our school? The solution is to spend more time on students’ knowledge of growth mindset and how to gain one.
This would be possible if the well-being subject expanded to all grades. A growth mindset would also be an important topic, having many lessons on it over the course of the year. Learning the facts and, using real-life examples of people who have used them in their life will help students apply them in their life.
There is significant evidence of other schools implementing growth mindsets and benefiting from it. A report from Dr Dweck said, "Researchers started noticing that teacher practice has a big impact on student mindset,-choose a challenge and increase achievement." This strategy must be used within our school.
Moving forwards our School must bring in more specific learning time during school about gaining growth mindsets. It would also be beneficial if parents learnt more about the topic to teach their children. This change needs to be made as it will greatly benefit our school. As it will allow our students to learn from challenges and learn from failure.
We must teach our students about growth mindsets, we must create a good learning environment to teach us growth mindsets, and we must allow the school’s students to flourish. Parents and staff must guide our boys to a growth mindset.
- By Patrick Hoare - Year 9 TGS Student
Bibliography:
Schroeder, B. (2019, July 12). 12 Advantages of a Growth Mindset That Accelerate Your Career. Forbes. 12 Advantages Of A Growth Mindset That Could Accelerate Your Career (forbes.com)
Dweck, C. (2017). Dr. Dweck’s Research into Growth Mindset Changed Education Forever. Mindset Works. The Growth Mindset - What is Growth Mindset - Mindset Works
Latest Blog
That Life-Changing Moment
His teacher, Mrs Rosemary Bishop saw his potential. She believed this young indigenous boy from Murgon had something special to offer the world and she fought to put him on the path to greatness. Mrs Bishop contacted the then Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School, Mr William Dent and asked if Waverley could be accepted into Toowoomba Grammar School on a scholarship. Mr Dent agreed and so changed the course of Waverley’s life. “I don’t like to think about where I would be now if that hadn’t…
Senioritis - The way we think affects the way we feel and behave
As high school students approach their final year, they may experience a phenomenon known as "Senioritis". As described by educators, Senioritis is a decrease in motivation and productivity, often accompanied by procrastination, complacency, and negative risk-taking behaviours. While not a medical term, Senioritis is a widely recognized term used to describe a common set of observed behaviours. As Jessica Lahey notes, "Senioritis is a real phenomenon. It can be defined as a decline in…
A Space for Learning
A core pillar of the Toowoomba Grammar School Strategic Plan is to provide an inspiring and broad curriculum for all boys, adopting technology and innovative pedagogy to transform learning outcomes. Over the last couple of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted teachers to explore new frontiers of pedagogy, adapting to the difficult circumstances by launching interactive software, digitising trusty, tried and true resources, recording our lessons, flipping our classrooms, and cultivating an…
When it comes to Music, Variety is the Spice of Life
In the Queensland Curriculum, the content of the music syllabus includes the study of the people, places and cultures involved in musical creation and performance. As our country becomes increasingly diverse, it is important for students in every school setting to study a wide variety of musical styles, cultures and genres. The Toowoomba Grammar School Music program of 2022 embraces this holistic approach to the study of music, encouraging teachers and students to explore a variety of musical…
A Trailblazer for Multicultural Australia
Wellington Lee has been described as a trailblazer for multicultural Australia. He was born in 1925 and attended TGS from 1940-42 before serving with the RAAF during WWII from 1943-46 and the Active Reserve of Officers from 1953-83. Mr Lee was a remarkable man of good character who lived in an exciting time of growth and change during Australia’s, and particularly Victoria’s history; the early days in Melbourne when 10% of their population was a thriving Asian community. It was also a…
REACH - Character Development in the Junior School
Being a kind person is fundamental to the growth of a successful person. Adults in our young men’s lives have a responsibility to model and teach the importance of respect, accepting and acknowledging our need to contribute to society in a positive and meaningful way. In 2016, the Junior School staff felt there was a need to create a program that allowed us to develop the character of the boys in the Junior School. Tailoring a program to meet our boys’ needs rather than a generic one allows…
The Grass is Always Greener
It’s time we put this age-old rumour to rest once and for all… The Toowoomba Grammar School ovals are not painted, dyed or manufactured grass; rather, the glorious green that greets passers-by as they drive into the Garden City comes from the sheer hard work and dedication of our TGS grounds team, led by Danny Beresford. Danny has exceptional pride for his grounds and a strong family connection to TGS. He is an Old Boy (2002-04) who played for the 1st XV in 2004 and was in the Track and Field…
A life in Words - Reading Biographies
Biography; from the Greek Bios - Life & Graphia - Writing; are books that chronicle the lives of real people. The subject of a Biography can be a celebrity, athlete, politician, athlete, historical figure or ordinary person that has achieved something of note. Reading Biographies is a valuable and oftentimes rewarding experience, with many potential benefits to the reader. Inspirational Biographies often recount successes and struggles of those people who have, over the course of their…
Spielberg in the Making...
I first became aware of film making when my brother showed me the behind-the-scenes featurette on our Lord of the Rings DVD. From then on, the process intrigued me, and I eventually got my hands on my dad’s camera and simple editing software. I made a bunch of little movies with my friends which were all pretty bad but I loved doing them anyway. What I liked most was that it was an easy way to share stories and even when the movies were not good, it was still a way of telling stories in a…
