“Before you say ‘I can’t’ you’ve already said ‘I can.’” If you visit the seventh and eighth grade classrooms, you’ll see posters with many messages depicting the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Based on the well-known research of Carol Dweck, developing a growth mindset has impacted the lives of many people across the globe. Shona Schwartz, an educational consultant who has been working with the junior-high teachers for the past half a year, returned to Bruriah to present to our JHB students. The interactive and experiential session, including role playing and collaborative activities, allowed the girls to become familiar with and explore this powerful concept. Having a growth mindset is the belief that basic ability can be developed through hard work and dedication. With this mindset, we learn to accept responsibility, appreciate feedback, take on challenges and see effort as a path to improvement. This theme will be developed throughout the year in JHB as students work together to continue learning and putting these ideas into practice.

After three days of campaigning for student committee elections, teachers put on a skit in advance of the winners being announced. They acted as students and demonstrated the reaction to winning and losing the election through a fixed mindset and then through a growth mindset. This carry-over to real life made the concept of growth mindset come alive in the Junior High. As Zehava Greenwald, assistant principal of junior high noted, “The success of this program lies in the carry-over to real life. If we teach the girls a nice message, it will remain just that. In order for this to become part of the culture, we need to continue learning and putting the concepts into action. A plan is set in place for that to happen here at JHB—teachers will be integrating this into their lessons and classroom procedures, students will produce an informational video for parents and much more. We are excited for our junior high to be a place where everyone knows ‘Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.’(Henry Ford).”