TEACHING GRIT: PERSISTENCE, SELF-CONTROL AND STUDENT SUCCESSRebecca March—Information StudiesMCTC Faculty Development DaysFebruary 28, 2014

“Experts to discuss Grit—the secret

ingredient to success…”

“Which directions do we give kids to get them in the direction of more grit?”

“Grittier competitors triumph the

National Spelling Bee!”

GRIT

My interest in this…

Positive psychology

“Learned Optimism”

Outlooks can change

Reframe reactions to negative events

GRIT

Grit and Success

“What matters is…whether we are able to help (students) develop these traits…” ---Paul Tough in “How Children Succeed…”

What is Grit?“A passionate commitment to a single mission and an unswerving dedication to achieve that mission”—Angela DuckworthPersistenceResilienceCuriosityConscientiousnessSelf-confidenceSelf -control

NATUREWho has grit?

Who doesn’t have grit…

Kids Raised with:Chronic stressAdversityLack of

comfortingDamaged

executive functions

Lack ability to:ConcentrateSit stillReboundFollow directionsDeal with confusion

and unpredictabilityOvercome

instinctive reactionHold several facts

in head at once

NURTURE

Who does and doesn’t have grit?

Who doesn’t have grit..

Kids that are overpraised!Shorter task persistenceMore checking in with teacherAnswers have intonation of

questions

MINDSETS

Is intelligence fixed or can it change?

“The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead

your life.” --Carol Dweck, Mindset: the New Psychology

of Success

Fixed MindsetIntelligence is

fixedPersonality is

fixedBorn with itUnchangeable

Growth MindsetIntelligence

malleablePersonality

malleableTraits can

change and be developed

“Learning is hard. True, learning is fun, exhilarating and gratifying, but it is also daunting, exhausting, and sometimes discouraging.”—Angela Duckworth

FIXED GROWTH

ABILITY Needs to be proven; ability just there, can’t be developed

Ability can be developed through learning

FEEDBACK Only interested in feedback about ability; not interested in suggestions for change or growth

Most interested in feedback that will aid learning; suggestions for growth appreciated

LEARNING Only likes safe, sure topics; motivated by goals

Likes it when things get more challenging; motivated by mastery

DEVELOPING GRITChanging Mindsets

Getting Grittier…

Calibrated Meanness!!!

Take them seriouslyBelieve in their abilities (and get them to believe)

Challenge them to improve themselves

Take them seriously…Check inAsk questionsHelp with clarityHelp them prepareSelf-authoring

Believe in their abilities…

CHALLENGE MINDSETS!What is intelligence?What is success?What is thinking?

Teach them to fail. Teach them to wonder…Take responsibilityProductive persistencePermission to wonder

What do you do to foster grit in the classroom?

……Let’s talk

THANKS FOR JOINING THE DISCUSSION TODAY!