At our Almada International School, we create a safe and nurturing environment where children grow academically, socially, and emotionally. It is essential that they develop skills that go beyond academic knowledge, such as empathy, resilience and autonomy.
We want to share two fundamental ideas that underlie our work: The pillars of SEL – Social and Emotional Learning – and the difference between a Growth Mindset and a Fixed Mindset.
What is SEL?
SEL is a process that teaches children to recognize and manage their emotions, make responsible decisions, establish positive relationships, and deal with challenges healthily.
In the school context, the pillars of SEL help children develop essential life skills such as:
- Self-awareness is a child’s ability to recognize and understand their own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It means being able to understand how you feel in different situations and identify what is happening inside you so you can react appropriately. Self-awareness is essential for developing healthy self-esteem and self-control.
- Self-management: Self-management is a child’s ability to effectively manage their emotions, thoughts and behaviors, especially in challenging or stressful situations. It includes the ability to control impulses, set and work towards goals, deal with frustration, and remain calm in times of stress. Self-management is critical to help children make more thoughtful decisions and stay focused on their tasks.
- Social Awareness—Social awareness refers to a child’s ability to understand the emotions and needs of others. It’s about developing empathy, that is, being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Social awareness also involves respecting differences, promoting effective communication and working in groups with cooperation and respect.
- Healthy relationships: Having healthy relationships means forming friendships and maintaining good relationships with colleagues, treating them with respect and kindness. Children who manage to create good relationships are able to clearly and assertively communicate what they feel and think, and know how to listen to others too.
- Responsible Decision Making: The child can make decisions based on ethical values, considering the consequences of their actions for themselves and others.
These pillars are fundamental to the development of emotional skills. Together with academic teaching, they help children experience the world with confidence, empathy and resilience.
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset:The Mindset that Shapes the Future
Today, we focus primarily on the difference between Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset.
What is a Fixed Mindset?
A Fixed Mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence are natural and cannot be changed or improved. Children with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges. They may feel unmotivated when they make mistakes, believing they are not “good” enough to improve at something.
Example of a child with Fixed Mindset: “I’m not good at math, I never will be.”
How can a fixed mindset limit a child’s potential?
- Avoids challenges: The child may prefer easy tasks, with no risk of failing.
- Demotivated by mistakes: Children can become demotivated and give up easily instead of learning from mistakes.
- Focus on comparisons: Children with a fixed mindset may feel inferior when comparing themselves to others.
What is a Growth Mindset?
The Growth Mindset is the belief that skills and intelligence can be developed through effort, dedication and continuous learning.
When a child adopts a growth mindset, they see challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. If they fail, they understand that the error is part of the process and that they can always try again and improve.
Example of a child with Growth Mindset: “I couldn’t solve this problem today, but with more practice and effort, I will be able to!”
How can we help our children develop a growth mindset?
- Encouraging effort: The focus should be on the child’s effort, not just the result. We must praise the child’s effort and persistence.
- Accepting mistakes as part of learning: Teach the child that making mistakes is not a problem, but an opportunity to learn.
- Ask open-ended questions: Encourage the child to reflect on how they can do things differently next time.
- Giving bright compliments: Praising the process and not just the talent. “I’m very proud of how you kept trying despite the difficulties.”
SEL and Growth Mindset are essential components of children’s development. By encouraging a growth mindset, we are preparing our children for a life of continuous learning, overcoming challenges, and building healthy, positive relationships.
These skills not only enhance academic performance but also contribute to their overall well-being and success in life.
In our daily work, we seek to integrate these approaches into all school activities and interactions so that children feel supported and motivated to grow academically and emotionally.
We are available to support families at home with practical tips on cultivating a Growth Mindset and other SEL skills.
Stay tuned for future newsletters for more resources and information!
Rita Estrela
