Well, I must admit I was
looking for a magic pill when I bought this book. It was an interesting read, but I guess the reality is there
is no golden key to success.
Through extensive
research, Paul Tough identified a variety of characteristics that are likely to
predict life satisfaction and high achievement:
Grit (commitment, dedication, and
persistence)
Self-control (delay of gratification,
self-regulation)
Learned optimism (train
yourself to be more hopeful)
Motivation (make a plan
and follow through on the plan)
Character (good values and
good citizenship)
Social intelligence (conscientiousness)
Gratitude
Optimism
Curiosity
I think we’d all agree on
how important these characteristics are in the classroom and in life, but how
to TEACH them is another challenge.
An interesting insight
from the book was Tough’s visit to a school that implemented Tools of the
Mind. This program was developed in Denver and focuses on
self-regulation skills rather than reading and writing.
*controlling impulses
*staying on task
*avoiding distractions
*managing emotions
*organizing thoughts
*self-talk or private
speech to talk themselves through a difficult task
Once again I am struck by
the dissonance between what the research suggests and what we are actually focusing on in our schools. However, I
don’t think the skills are incompatible with the Common Core State
Standards. I’m convinced most
teachers do encourage self-regulation, organizational skills, good citizenship,
task completion, and a positive attitude every day.
GRIT is a good word for students and educators, isn’t it? Commitment,
dedication, and persistence – that’s YOU!