Tag Archives: Character strengths

Grit and Growth Mindset

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GROWTH MINDSET

Most of us are famliar with the concept of the growth mindset. A growth mindset is believing in the power of yourself and your brain! We know our intellect and abilities develop when we try hard things, use the right strategies, and don’t give up. So, a growth mindset is when we know, with practice, we will get better at something.

People with a growth mindset are those who believe that smartness increases with hard work, whereas those with a fixed mindset believe that you can learn things but you can’t change your basic level of intelligence.

Science has shown that when we use a growth mindset and practise doing something, the neural pathways in our brain increase and make it easier. This picture shows the increased activity in a brain with a growth mindset.

People with a growth mindset see mistakes as an opportunity to learn whereas those with a fixed mindset have a fear of trying new things and taking risks with their learning because they’re worried about failing.

 

 

 

GRIT

Grit is similar to the growth mindset in some ways, but is more about the ability to keep working toward a goal, overcoming challenges and sticking with it even when it’s hard. A true definition of grit that grit is a personality trait that helps you keep working toward long-term goals despite setbacks or failures. Angela Duckworth is the founder of the grit theory and she defines grit as  “passion and perseverence toward long-term goals.”

Grit is a character trait that we have all needed to use to be successful during remote learning. Not only do many of our students show grit, but our parents show grit by persistently helping you with your learning and wanting the best for you. Our teachers have also shown grit by showing adaptability, determination and persistence to deliver a successful remote learning program to you, our students.

Big Life Journal suggests activities that you can do to help your child develop grit and resilience. This time of remote learning is an opportune time to assist your child to develop these life-long skills by assisting them with…

  • Finding purpose by identifying their goals
  • Interview (older) family members about times they have worked hard towards a long term goal
  • Sharing stories of famous people (eg JK Rowling, Michael Jordan)
  • Identifying stories of grit in literature (eg Dr Seuss: Oh, The Places You Will Go)
  • Ask “what’s the hard part?” and talk about how they might overcome the obstacle

 

 

How are you going to show GRIT with your remote learning this week?

Prudence

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People who are prudent think carefully and make sensible and smart choices. Prudent people plan carefully and think before they act or speak.

Prudence sits within the “Meaning” arm of the BHPS starfish and there are quite a few goals that  people who are keen to be more prudent can aspire to. These include:

  • Doing things that make a positive difference,
  • using the character strengths of positive role models and
  • helping others.

Being prudent can also mean making sensible decisions about where you can seek help if needed and knowing who you can help.

The Ant and the Grasshopper  – A lesson in prudence!

Can you think of any other fables in which the characters show prudence?

Positive Coping

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As we grow and develop, we will encounter situations where we feel worried, nervous and sometimes even scared. Individuals deal with the demands on them by drawing on a range of coping strategies. Some strategies are more productive than others. Learning a range of positive coping skills will allow you to develop and practise skills that will enable you to cope with future changes and challenges.

Positive self-talk is a key strategy for coping with negative thoughts, emotions, and events. Resilience research shows that use of positive self-talk is associated with greater persistence in the face of challenge, whereas negative self-talk is associated with higher levels of distress and worry. Positive self-talk can be learnt or strengthened through practice.

Positive self-talk fits into the positive emotions area of the BHPS wellbeing model. I use many words to express my emotions and I can use positive thinking skills to improve how I feel.

We all have times when we feel negative emotions like sad, angry, jealous, lonely, frustrated or bored. However we all have many coping strategies, or things we do that help us to manage. We do things to calm ourselves down or to cheer ourselves up. Firstly, it’s helpful to name your emotion and speak to an adult if you don’t think you can manage your feeling on your own.

Here is a list of just some of the strategies you can use to help yourself to feel better:

  1. Practise breathing – use an exercise such as in, 2, 3, hold, 2, 3, 4, out, 2, 3, 4, 5
  2. Do some exercise such as running around outside, jumping on a trampoline
  3. Read a book
  4. Listen to some of your favourite music
  5. Draw a picture
  6. Play a game
  7. Do some yoga
  8. Go on Smiling Minds and do some mindfulness
  9. Organise a play with a friend
  10. Do something that makes you laugh such as reading ajoke book or watching something funny on TV

Positive self talk means speaking kindly to yourself. You could ask yourself;  “What would you say to a friend who had this problem?” You’re likely to have some kind, supportive words which you should use when thinking about yourself.

“The Most Magnificent Thing” by Ashley Spires is a great example of a person using positive self talk to persist in the face of challenge. Have a look at this stop motion animation put together by Elmwood School in Ottawa (Canada).

I love this book about a girl looking in the mirror and seeing a version of herself that she likes.

Growth Mindset

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In the BHPS PERMA wellbeing model, Growth Mindset (with the character strength, Persistence), belongs to the “Accomplishment” category.

WHAT IS GROWTH MINDSET?

We all have beliefs about our own abilities and potential. These beliefs are part of our mindset which is so powerful it can fuel our behaviour and predict our success. Mindset shapes our everyday lives, helping us interpret our experiences and future possibilities.

In her research at Stanford University, Dr. Carol Dweck identified two different types of mindsets, growth and fixed. Growth mindset occurs when we believe our intelligence and abilities can be improved upon with effort and the right strategies.

A willingness to confront challenges, a passion for learning and viewing failure as a springboard for growth are all characteristics associated with a growth mindset. Not surprisingly, this type of mindset is strongly linked to greater happiness and achievement in life.

In contrast, those with a fixed mindset believe their intelligence and abilities cannot be altered in a meaningful way. As a result, mistakes are often seen as failures rather than opportunities to grow and learn. When stuck in a fixed mindset, we may fear new experiences, avoid risks, and feel the need to repeatedly prove ourselves over and over.

https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/teach-growth-mindset-kids-activities

The best thing about knowing about a growth mindset is knowing that you have the power to change your brain!

Your brain is like a muscle and the connections (neural pathways) between areas of your brain strengthen and grow with practise.

Mojo and Katie from Class Dojo

 

This clip uses the metaphor of a plant to explain the process…

 

Your Fantastic, Elastic Brain

Write and draw examples of when you have shown a growth mindset

Fairness and positive gender relationships

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This week we will be examining positive and fair relationships between males and females. Research has shown that by modelling and developing empathy is pivotal in preventing discrimination and unfairness in relationships between males and females. People who understand what is right and what is wrong are more likely to treat others with respect and fairness.

This is how Fairness and Positive Gender Relationships fits into the BHPS Wellbeing model

Relationships:
I accept, understand and empathise with others.

I can….

∙ be a positive bystander

∙ show respect to everyone
∙ be a bucket filler
∙ be open minded towards others and their ideas.
∙ be kind to everyone
∙ include others
∙ care about the feelings of others

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch………
Princess Elizabeth is about to marry Prince Roland when a dragon kidnaps the prince and destroys her castle, burning all of her clothes. With nothing to wear but a paper bag, Elizabeth valiantly saves her prince – who is less than pleased at her un-princess-like appearance. But Elizabeth doesn’t care that she doesn’t fit the perfect picture of a princess.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY: True princesses are true to themselves.

 

People who are fair treat everyone equally and give everyone a fair chance. Fairness is also about working cooperatively and applying rules fairly. People who are equitable treat males and females equally and have respect for all regardless of their gender. Another aspect of fairness is being a positive bystander.

This clip is about respecting others…

Kid President makes a new friend

This is about being a positive bystander (an UPSTANDER)

Self-Belief and Gender Equity

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Self-Belief and Gender Equity

This topic is an important component of  Respectful Relationships.

Children become aware of gender norms at an early age and as they learn about gender they may also  develop attitudes and beliefs such as that some games are for boys and some for girls.

Some ads on TV and some books show gender norms. Notice how in fairy tales, the strong male (prince) often comes to the rescue of the weak female (princess). Some people think that boys can’t wear pink or have long hair. Girls who like playing games with the boys can be called “tom boys”. Is this fair? Is this right?

It is important to show respect for everyone, regardless of their differences or gender.

People who show respect for others have self belief and they give others the opportunity to have self belief.

Draw a pilot, a surgeon and a nurse…

“It’s OK to be Different”

Thomas the Tank Engine

Respecting others and using kind words

 

Gender stereotype ads

 

Emotional Literacy

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This week at BHPS we will be looking at the Character Strength “Friendship” through the Emotional and Social intelligence lens.

Our Learning Intentions are for students to:

  • Recognise and identify their own emotions
  • Compare their emotional responses with those of their peers.
  • Describe the influence that people, situations and events have on their emotions
  • Investigate how emotional responses vary in depth and strength
  • Understand how to interact positively with others in different situations
  • Examine how success, challenge and failure strengthen personal identities.

There are many different words that can be used to describe your own emotions. You can also use these words to identify how others are feeling and empathise with them. Emojis are also a good visual to show a range of feelings or emotions, or symbols such as these.

It is not just your day to day interactions with others and identifying your own emotions that can benefit from having a bank of emotion descriptors.

Understanding a range of these words increases your emotional literacy and assists with comprehension, especially inference when reading. When writing, these words can be used to describe how characters are feeling which makes writing more descriptive and interesting to read.

Name That Emotion

Exploring Emotions

 

In My Heart

Enthusiasm

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Known as “Zest” within the VIA classification of character strengths, enthusiasm is an approach to life which is also known as vitality. People who are enthusiastic do everything with excitement and energy.

Exhibiting enthusiasm could involve:

-Actively participating by asking questions or listening closely

-Showing enthusiasm through smiles or excited comments

-Invigorating others around you

-Exercise is a great way to use the strength of zest.

“Olivia” is an example of someone who has zest for life!

 

Where the Hell is Matt?

Matt travels the world and records himself dancing in each place.

School children talking about “Zest”

What does it mean to be enthusiastic and have zest? What do you think of when you hear the words enthusiasm or zest?

Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence

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People who have the character strength “appreciation of beauty and excellence”  notice and enjoy the beauty, skill and excellence involved in things around me including nature, art and architecture.

There are three types of goodness for which individuals high in Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence are responsive to:

  • Physical beauty. This may be visual, auditory, tactile, or abstract. This type of goodness produces awe and wonder in the individual experiencing it.
  • Skill or talent (excellence). This is often energising, and makes the individual want to pursue their own goals. It produces admiration.
  • Virtue or moral goodness (moral beauty). Virtual goodness makes the individual want to be better, more loving, and produces feelings of elevation.

We have so much natural beauty to enjoy in Barwon Heads and every so often our wonderful sand artist makes art works on our beaches!

 

Thirteenth Beach

The Moonahs, riverwalks, mangroves, estuary and river

What do you appreciate most about where you live?

Honesty

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People who have the “Honesty” character strength are honest, not only to themselves, but to others as well. Being honest is about taking responsibility for your own actions and not blaming others. People who are honest are down to earth, ethical and act with integrity.

We all know how important it is to be honest when we are at home and at school. When playing games, honest people play by the rules as this makes it more fun for everyone. “Owning up” to something that you may have done, even if it was a mistake, is something that honest people do too.

At Barwon Heads PS, Honesty lies within the Mindfulness arm of our Starfish wellbeing model.

Watch “The Anthill” – What lesson did Hercules learn? How did his dishonesty effect others?

 

“The Emporer’s Seed” – How did the Emporer choose his successor?

(This sotry is also known as “The Empty Pot”)

Why is it important to be honest?

Can you come up with your own moral? e.g. Being honest will earn you the respect of others OR Honesty is respected.

Make a poster of your moral.