The brain and growth mindset

T H E B R A I N

&growth mindset

By Danielle Brown, Head of Primary School

I have recently been exploring the concept and research around neuroplasticity. The idea that our brain has the ability to adapt or rewire itself. This links nicely to what we teach our students at FCAC about a Growth Mindset.

In a webinar titled “Teaching Kids to Stretch” by Dan Haesler, he explored Growth and Fixed Mindsets based on the research by Carol Dweck. He encouraged us to think about the words we use when we praise our children. Giving children praise based on how smart they are (fixed mindset) as opposed to how much effort they had put into something (growth mindset). Saying, “Oh wow, great job, you must be really smart at this” over and over again can lead to the child thinking that when things come easy to them then they are smart. But when things are hard, they can give up because they are afraid of not being seen to be smart anymore. If we change our words to say “Oh wow, great job, you must have worked really hard at this”, then we are praising the child for the effort they have put into achieving a goal or a challenging question. This type of praise helps the child to understand that no matter how hard the challenge, if they work at it, they can work to a solution. Using this type of praise in a situation where they haven’t got the answer right is also encouraging, “Oh wow, you are nearly there. Keep working on it and you will get there”. We want our children to be developing growth mindsets, believing that their abilities, intelligence and talents can all be developed and enhanced through hard work and determination. That challenges are welcomed and are fun experiences that test our brains and help us grow our abilities, intelligence and talents. Demonstrating a Growth Mindset also encourages our brain to rewire itself, leading to the strengthening of neural pathways which then rewires our brains. Even as adults, role modelling a growth mindset can lead to neuroplasticity.

Fraser Flames Get your burg Football undy on!

By Adrian Elmes, Acting Director of Sport

The Fraser Flames Football team rejoins the Wide Bay Premier League for the first time in 5 years. Not only have they rejoined, but they are really imposing themselves on their long-awaited return to the top division of Men's Football. It was announced during the 2020 season that the Wide Bay Buccaneers would not be taking place in the SE Qld competition, FQPL. As a result, Buccaneer's families started planning for Football back in Wide Bay competitions.Thomas Biden (2016 FCAC School Captain) used his extensive network of Football friends and offered them a spot in the Fraser Flames. This group of young men includes 9 former students, 3 current grade 12 students, 2 former Flames players and 3 existing Flames youth players. They started training early in the pre-season without a Coach. Dale Paxton, who was planning on having a year off from coaching, came down to a training session. After taking one look at the talented players, many of which Dale had coached before, his one year sabbatical was over before it began. FCAC alumni Nathan Philp (2016), Jarryd Wynn (2017), Finn Mikkelsen (2017), Jai Lambden (2014), Benji Bodie (2017), Alex Webb (2020) and Thomas Biden (2016) are all in the squad. Add in four current FCAC Year 12 students - Orik Mikkelsen, Bart du Plooy, Edward Sprake and Rhyly Paton and the future is looking very bright for this squad. This young squad is now over halfway through the season, and they are sitting second on the table with a total 9 points gap to third. While some of the players have previously won premierships in the WBL2 division, Fraser Flames teams have never played in the Division 1 final before. They will this year.

This squad love to use the saying – Get your Burgundy on!

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