Penstripe Student Planner Catalogue 24-25 - Flipbook - Page 111
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THE SCIENCE BIT – MINDSET MATTERS
The Science Bit – Mindset Matters
The Science Bit – Forming Positive Habits
Mindset is at the heart of learning and, therefore, your success at school. It
influences motivation and effort levels and will impact on how far you can
progress in your various subjects.
Have you ever stopped to think about the mindset you bring into each
classroom? What has influenced that mindset? Do you dread some classes
because you lack interest in the subject or because you don’t think you are
‘smart enough’? Have you ever said: I’m just no good at Maths or Science or
English (etc)? That fixed way of thinking about your ability can seriously harm
your learning. It demotivates and can even impact on memory function. As
we mentioned earlier, your brain has an amazing capacity to carve out new
pathways for learning. Therefore, you have the ability to get smarter with a
positive mindset and the right strategies.
Stop and think. What are your
repeated behaviours or habits? Such
as the way you brush your teeth, how
you tie your shoelaces or check your
mobile phone first thing when you
wake up.
When I put my
mind to it, I can
learn most things
Mistakes help
me to learn
Success
Mindset
If you have that positive mindset in school, it follows that you will probably be
at least a little more motivated in your subjects, and believe it or not, you only
need a small amount of motivation to begin to study. Once you see success
and have some sense of accomplishment, your motivation levels will increase.
Success breeds motivation. Don’t forget: when you do achieve success,
however small, stop and celebrate it. The more this process continues,
the more you build good habits.
Description
Page Ref.
The Science Bit – Mindset Matters S-7
What are your
habits?
Habits bypass the need for conscious
willpower (thinking) and they protect
against temptation. Good habits
around sleep, studying and physical
activity support long-term goals and
are linked to better academic and
health outcomes.
I can always
improve
I can train
my brain
Copyright © 2021 Inspire Education
A habit is defined as ‘a settled or regular tendency to practice a behaviour
that has become nearly or completely involuntary’. Put simply, it is those
things we do repeatedly about which we don’t have to consciously think.
Habits are therefore essential for supporting success but they are a doubleedged sword. Poor habits can stubbornly persist despite our best intentions.
But good habits will continue too, almost effortlessly, despite fluctuations
in motivation.
Is it easy to change our habits?
Habits form by repeating behaviours within
a given context. According to the science
of habit formation it takes an average of
66 days to develop a new one. In one
study, some people took just 18 days.
This is because, with repetition, the
association between context and
behaviour strengthens: from being at first
conscious to then automatic. The scientific
explanation is that repetition is associated
with automaticity, which in turn reduces
what are termed ‘want conflicts’ (feelings
of wanting to do something else).
Description
The Science Bit –
Forming Positive Habits
It takes an
average of
66 days
to develop a
new habit
Copyright © 2021 Inspire Education
A mindset is a way of thinking that determines how we behave. Our mindset
varies depending on the task or activity in hand, for example, you might have
a positive mindset in Maths because you enjoy the subject and did well in
a recent test. You might, however, have a negative mindset in Art because
someone once said you were terrible at it and so you think, ‘what’s the point
in putting in effort – I’m going to fail anyway’.
Feedback is
constructive
THE SCIENCE BIT –
FORMING POSITIVE HABITS
Page Ref.
S-8
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