Grit in the Classroom: Building Perseverance for Excellence in Today's Students

by Laila Sanguras

Overview

The combination of sustained hard work and resiliency, grit is the difference between those who give up and those who don't. Grit in the Classroom: Building Perseverance for Excellence in Today's Students assists educators in creating a learning environment that fosters grit development for all students, regardless of ability. Each chapter includes stories to illustrate the research and ideas presented and ends with discussion questions that can be used to continue the conversation. In an era of talent development and the pursuit of excellence, learners must be equipped with the perseverance that is essential to reaching high levels of success. This book provides a rationale for cultivating grit in the classroom with the goal of propelling this topic into discussions of building passion and talent in today's students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781618216311
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	166
Sales rank:	283,257
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Laila Y. Sanguras is a former middle school teacher. That means she's an expert in managing parent loops, writing accommodations, field trip planning, and navigating the highs and lows of middle school emotions. Plus, she knows some stuff about language arts. Her interest in grit stemmed from observing her students balk at challenging activities in school, yet excel despite struggling in areas outside of school. She received her doctorate in educational psychology from the University of North Texas. It sounds boring, but really it's exciting. A storyteller at heart, she now deeply understands how she can use numbers and words to narrate our experiences.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Chapter 1 Anatomy of Grit 1

Chapter 2 Measuring Grit 27

Chapter 3 What Gritty Classrooms Can Learn From Gifted Education and Talent Development 53

Chapter 4 Integrating Grit, Mindsets, and Motivation 75

Chapter 5 Cultivating Passionate Students 91

Chapter 6 Building Grit at Home 107

Chapter 7 Creating a Gritty School Culture 125

Conclusion 139

Resources 143

References 149

About the Author 157

Editorial Reviews

This is a good book for teachers who want to incorporate Angela Duckworth's research on grit into their classroom instruction but need more background . . . Overall an easy, useful read for teachers who are curious to learn more about the practical implementation of grit in the classroom and want some practical ideas to get started. Mindprint Learning, 11/1/17
The book is accessible, engaging, and often humorous, weaving in current research alongside relatable examples and anecdotes for teachers . . . Each chapter ends with discussion questions, making this an excellent choice for school or district-wide professional development . . . VERDICT This comprehensive introduction is the rare professional resource that is useful to most educators in many contexts., School Library Journal, 2/6/18
Throughout the book, the author's teacher voice conveys a common sense tone sprinkled with humor and realism. She shares personal accounts and offers practical suggestions and viewpoints in a matter-of-fact, succinct, easy-to-read text. I found Grit in the Classroom enjoyable and interesting, and definitely recommend it as a worthwhile addition to other books about grit and mindset., Linda Bollendorf, MiddleWeb, 2/7/18

From the Publisher

01/01/2018
Sanguras explores how educators can foster resilience and passion in their students by explicitly teaching grit. She argues that grit, which lies at the crossroads between perseverance and passion for learning and is separate from intelligence, is essential for success. The book is accessible, engaging, and often humorous, weaving in current research alongside relatable examples and anecdotes for teachers. The author addresses methods for developing, instilling, and assessing perseverance and engagement at all levels, including in the classroom, through partnerships with parents and by creating a "gritty" culture in the school community. Sanguras also examines differentiation and how to teach grit to gifted learners, and the concepts pair well with other hot topics in education, such as project-based learning. Each chapter ends with discussion questions, making this an excellent choice for school or district-wide professional development. An extensive list of additional resources is appended. VERDICT This comprehensive introduction is the rare professional resource that is useful to most educators in many contexts.—Kathryn Justus, Renbrook School, West Hartford, CT

School Library Journal