Brain Growth and Struggle

We have been learning about brain growth and struggle. We know that we need to embrace struggle and accept challenges for our brain to grow.

We know how important mistakes are for our learning. We make mistake dances to celebrate!

Fulop: We focused on making our brains grow. The activity was to emphasise perseverance and to show how the brain learns. We started with a scrap piece of paper. We had to draw a perfect square in the middle, not on the edges. We did it. And that was when The Challenge began. We had cut out the WHOLE square in ONE straight line. Sure, first thought? Impossible. Utterly impossible. Well, no. I started to catch onto the way when Nicola announced that you can fold, and I immediately realised somehow folding had something to do with it. Later, I was still searching for the answer, and every way seemed to sort of change as I nearly accomplished it. In the end, I had to get help, but I kept on trying! For people who passed through “the Square”, there came, “The Oblong”... I tried that, but that was even more mind-boggling! But In the end, I managed square! When you learn something, new, delicate pathways will form, connecting two Neurons. If you keep learning it, and keep getting better at it, it will become a strong pathway, as if the brain paved it. It could also happen that when you learn about something that was an old pathway, it could strengthen. The last possibility is that two pathways you have already connect, forming a stronger pathway. The Brain is very interesting, Isn’t it?

Beatrix: It was really hard and I struggled a lot but I persevered and got it in the end. I tried it two times and it didn’t work but I tried again and I got it.

Charlotte: When you try something for the first time you will make a delicate pathway e.g. I was doing a math problem that was hard. But if you keep on trying and it will make a stronger pathway.

Hadley: It was an interesting feeling. I was annoyed at myself for not getting it but I was also growing my brain. It was quite complex to talk about.

Hunter: New pathways in your brain are delicate and easy to forget and break.but if you repeat and keep learning it the pathway will strengthen and strengthen so that it will be very hard to forget and break. The path ways can also connect with each other and join the learning together. The struggle was annoying and it made feel mad.

Olive: The struggle made me feel a bit panicked but when I calmed down I felt more confident. My brain is growing!

Sabine: I persevered by trying new ways if others didn’t work. I made a few mistakes but that’s ok because mistakes help your brain grow!

Yoichi: My brain grew because now I know what to do and what not to do.The struggle made me really frustrated and I started to think it was impossible. I persevered by not giving up, trying and then I DID IT!

Developing a Culture of Risk Taking, Mistake Making, Perseverance and Accepting Challenges

Beliefs about ability have a huge impact on learning so we have been learning to take risks with our learning.

We are learning to make mistakes as they are a great opportunity to learn. When we make mistakes our brain grows. No one learns without making mistakes. Risks are valuable

We are learning to set goals and reflect on our learning to see progress. 

We are learning about Growth Mindset and how to persevere through challenges with an "I can" attitude. Challenge seeking and diligent effort is the goal.

We are learning about the power of "yet." Just because we can't do something yet does not mean you can't do it. 

Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it. ~Oprah Winfrey

We watched this clip. We asked our students how you can become smarter. This is what they said:

• persevere
• don't give up
• accept challenges
• use your Growth Mindset
• practise
• try and try again
• make mistakes 
• take risks

A Growth Mindset in Maths

Our students are learning about the importance of having a Growth Mindset. Research shows that mistakes help the brain to grow. Our students are learning that challenge is a good thing! Here are some things parents can do at home to stamp out Maths anxiety.  

Maths Attitude: The Blob Tree

We have been using the "Blob Tree" as a way for students to reflect on their attitude towards Maths. Research has shown that having a positive attitude towards Maths boosts the brain's memory and can lead to higher achievement in the subject. You can read more: Positive Attitude Towards Math Predicts Math Achievement in Kids

We know that a Growth Mindset is really important in Maths. We have been investigating how we can change our mindset from a fixed mindset to a Growth Mindset with words. 

How you can help at home:

Maths: Speed is the enemy of a mistake and risk taking culture!

Research from Jo Boaler says that students in the UK, USA and beyond think that those who work best in Maths work quickly. Actually, those who are best at Maths think deeply and carefully. Speed is the enemy of mistakes and a risk taking culture. 

At Worser Bay School we LOVE mistakes. Students need time to work through challenges. Some of our students do a mistake dance when they make a mistake. Our students have designed some posters that we have put up in the classroom. 

How Can We Change The Way We View Mistakes?

Mistakes help your brain to grow!

Students crumpled a piece of paper and threw it at the board (maybe with some feelings of frustration.) Students retrieved their paper, smoothed it out and traced the creased lines with a coloured pen- this represented the brain growth. Synapses grow in your brain.

We will display the paper to show them the importance of making mistakes.

Mistakes.

You usually think that mistakes are bad, But they actually they help your brain grow.
when you make mistakes, it makes your synopsis fire up, which help brain growth.
For example. Edison created the light bulb, and other cool inventions. But actually his teacher said he was to stupid to learn. But Edison persevered and made 1,000 mistakes. When a reporter asked him about his mistakes, he said they weren't mistakes, they were small steps.

By Alex B