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
A Musical Reflection
As Director of Performing Arts, there is perhaps no bigger undertaking than a School musical. It requires an enormous effort from a huge team of teachers and students, and to get all these moving parts heading in the same direction is certainly no mean feat. The 2023 co-production of Footloose was my first time involved in a Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College musical, and I found it to be a very rewarding, though exhausting, experience. The process began in Term 3, 2022, as my…
TGS Success in GPS Sport
In 2023, Toowoomba Grammar School witnessed a remarkable resurgence in several of our sports programs, marking a year of triumph and growth. Although an elusive GPS premiership did not fall our way, a number of our 1st teams competed to the final whistle in Round 9 of their respective competitions, vying for their premierships. The achievements of our boys on the field and court were nothing short of exceptional, reflecting the commitment, dedication and character development that participation…
An Exceptional Learning Experience
As a member of the Junior School Leadership Team at Toowoomba Grammar School, my role involves ensuring that the Junior School’s Teaching and Learning programs are designed, implemented and managed effectively. This role is grounded in the vision, mission, and values of TGS and is crucial in supporting the Head of Junior School and the Director of Studies in providing an exceptional learning experience for our boys. At TGS Junior School, we prioritise the use of explicit teaching to ensure that…
An Inclusive Education
Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to introduce the newest addition to our education team, Amanda Gibson. Amanda commenced in Term 4, 2023 in the pivotal role of Head of Diverse Learners and will bring new direction and focus to the position in alignment with our commitment to inclusive education, aligning seamlessly with our Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the Inclusive Education Policy. “I am very excited about developing this role,” said Amanda. “I have a passion for fostering environments where…
Get Involved in Everything
As Senior Prefect at Toowoomba Grammar School, I have had the opportunity to witness the benefits of being an all-rounder firsthand. With the various activities and programs the School offers, the ability to be involved in as many things as possible is not only enjoyable but brings about numerous benefits that extend far beyond the school years. Ranging from sports to drama and debating, participating in anything the School has to offer is an excellent way to make friends and build networks of…
The Importance of Knowledge
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed traveling great distances. As a child growing up in rural New South Wales, this was inevitable. The region was speckled with towns, some more vibrant than others, and diverse landscapes where hillside ruins whispered tales of bygone eras. Over time, these landscapes and towns transformed into familiar scenes, with even minor changes in the community and environment growing more noticeable during each visit. Education parallels this journey, as…
Senior TGS Students' Advice for Starting Senior School
Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Here are some tips from some Year 7 Grammar boys who started Senior School in 2023. Get involved in different sports and activities Toowoomba Grammar School provides many sports and activities that any student can participate in. As a current Year 7 student, I highly recommend trying out as many different sports and activities as you can. Throughout my first year in high school, I…
Transition to Senior School at TGS
Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Irrespective of whether your son is joining us from the TGS Junior School, or if they are just starting at Toowoomba Grammar School, this is the start of a long and special journey. Your son will have a lot to digest with a new, possibly larger campus to navigate, different teachers and lessons, making new friends, where to go and what to do at morning tea and lunch. There can be a…
The Transition to Year 7 - from a Parent and Staff Member's Perspective
Regardless of your history with the school, you are all equally welcome here and should feel comfortable in knowing that we value every family and their son’s contribution to our School. Toowoomba Grammar School was built by the community, for the community and it is a School that I am immensely proud of. In 2025 we will celebrate our sesquicentenary or Grammar 150 and your sons will play a vital role in those celebrations. Our pedagogy is modelled on explicit instruction which has its roots in…
