Having a Growth Mindset is a simple idea discovered by psychologist Carol Dweck. In her book: Mindset: how you can fulfill your potential, Carol Dweck explains the difference between fixed mindset and Growth Mindset.

In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. Adults or children with a fixed mindset spend their time re-affirming their intelligence or talent instead of developing or improving them. This mindset can promote a belief that talent alone creates success—without effort.

At Kender we believe that talent alone is not enough to enable children to become successful life long learners.

On the other hand, in a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.

Virtually all highly successful people have had these qualities.

At Kender we believe that promoting and teaching a Growth Mindset creates motivation and better learning power.

In July 2014 we invited Andy Brumby from Cornwall Learning to deliver a training session for all adults at Kender school. We were introduced to a character called Fizz-Bang-Wallop who demonstrated characteristics of a learner with a Growth Mindset. We have adapted this character to help teach Growth Mindset at Kender. Please see our diagram below.