The confusing new terrain of grit
OK, now I’m totally confused. I used to think I understood the concept of grit and its importance in education. It’s the non-cognitive skill (or ch...
Tag: grit
I recommend How Children Succeed, by Paul Tough
If you’re a teacher in an underfunded urban high school, it’s sometimes difficult to keep hope alive. No matter how hard you work, failure is all a...
First, it was grit. Now, it’s urgency.
A few months ago, I read a New York Times article about character education and got excited about teaching my students about the importance of grit. I think my...
The good and bad news of Grammar Week
Last week, instead of doing a new AP Practice Essay, my students and I focused on grammar and proofreading. Their assignment: Choose an essay they’ve wri...
A successful student: Grit over intellect
I was never the smartest student. But my parents always told me to try my best. So I did, maniacally so. From school to baseball to piano, I made sure to work ...