Comments on: GRIT: What is it?

By: Tessa

Tessa — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:00:59 +0000

In reply to Holly. Wow! Thank you for the parent perspective. As a non-parent, but as a teacher, I often feel like I can empathize with parents but of course I don't completely 'get it'. I love the research I've done on this and it's truly made me think about some things. As far as the calling on non-hand-raisers, it truly can go both ways. I never call on a kid I know will not know the answer at all. But often those incorrect answers let me see what's going on in their heads, and how they're processing. I often tell my kids "Thank you for trying and participating" even when the answer is wrong, so publicly commend them for an attempt and putting themselves out there.

Thank you for your insights!

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 19:44:39 +0000

I loved this!!!! I think sometimes a parent's natural inclination is to protect their child and sometimes they attach their own worth and ability to parent well to how their child does in school. So when a child bombs a test because they didn't study - the parent has a difficult time seeing it for what it is - a natural learning experience that their child can learn from...increase their "grit", if you will. I can speak from experience here, I used to see my child's shortcomings as a reflection of my parenting skills...so I did swoop in more often than I should - over time, I've come to realize that my parenting is just fine and swooping in, is actually a greater reflection of my parenting...and I'd rather give my children life skills rather than make myself look better. #truth

As far as calling on children whose hands aren't raised - I know there can be varying camps, on this one, in terms of how people think about this. I want to defend doing this....I think you can do it as long as you set up a positive culture of risk taking. I tell my students over and over and over and then some more that there are no "WRONG" answers...sure, we know some answers aren't correct...but the fact that you've taken a risk, gave an incorrect answer, you just helped us LEARN from your answer...so it was WRONG it was RIGHT in so many awesome ways and we're proud of risk takers in our class. Know what I mean?

I just love this post to bits and pieces because of how hard it makes a teacher think...I could keep commenting...but I'll stop! HA!

Holly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

By: Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Lynda Mullaly Hunt — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 19:12:19 +0000

I LOVE this post! Grit is such an important life skill–we do need to be thinking more about it as teachers and parents. Your post makes me wish I was teaching third grade again. As teachers, we would have been kindred spirits. 🙂

By: Mrs. Reinartz

Mrs. Reinartz — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 08:48:35 +0000

Wow! This was a very insightful post! I think it is very important for parents to realize that their child is going to struggle and it's ok… We live in a society where everyone gets a trophy for "participating" and it really hurts our kids…