1. TEACHING GRIT: PERSISTENCE, SELF- CONTROL AND STUDENT SUCCESS Rebecca March—Information Studies MCTC Faculty Development Days February 28, 2014

2. “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!” GRITGRIT

3. My interest in this… Positive psychology “Learned Optimism” Outlooks can change Reframe reactions to negative events GRIT

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

5. What is Grit? “A passionate commitment to a single mission and an unswerving dedication to achieve that mission”—Angela Duckworth Persistence Resilience Curiosity Conscientiousness Self-confidence Self -control

6. NATURE Who has grit?

7. Who doesn’t have grit… Kids Raised with: Chronic stress Adversity Lack of comforting Damaged executive functions Lack ability to: Concentrate Sit still Rebound Follow directions Deal with confusion and unpredictability Overcome instinctive reaction Hold several facts in head at once

8. NURTURE Who does and doesn’t have grit?

9. Who doesn’t have grit.. Kids that are overpraised! Shorter task persistence More checking in with teacher Answers have intonation of questions

10. MINDSETS Is intelligence fixed or can it change?

11. “The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.” -- Carol Dweck, Mindset: the New Psychology of Success Fixed Mindset Intelligence is fixed Personality is fixed Born with it Unchangeable Growth Mindset Intelligence malleable Personality malleable Traits can change and be developed

12. “Learning is hard. True, learning is fun, exhilarating and gratifying, but it is also daunting, exhausting, and sometimes discouraging.”—Angela Duckworth FIXEDGROWTH ABILITYNeeds to be proven; ability just there, can’t be developed Ability can be developed through learning FEEDBACKOnly 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 LEARNINGOnly likes safe, sure topics; motivated by goals Likes it when things get more challenging; motivated by mastery

13. DEVELOPING GRIT Changing Mindsets

14. Getting Grittier…

15. Calibrated Meanness!!! Take them seriously Believe in their abilities (and get them to believe) Challenge them to improve themselves

16. Take them seriously… Check in Ask questions Help with clarity Help them prepare Self-authoring

17. Believe in their abilities… CHALLENGE MINDSETS! What is intelligence? What is success? What is thinking?

18. Teach them to fail. Teach them to wonder… Take responsibility Productive persistence Permission to wonder

19. What do you do to foster grit in the classroom? ……Let’s talk

20. THANKS FOR JOINING THE DISCUSSION TODAY!