Stickability (Grit)

My definition of this word: “The ability to stick to the task at hand no matter the obstacles so that a goal is met.” I’ve been teaching this life lesson for as long as I can remember. And I know and admit that I’m not the first one to teach it. But there are those who are saying this is a NEW revelation in educating children.

Have you heard about it? Grit…Yep, we’re being told our children need grit to succeed in school and life. We’re being told this is a NEW answer.

Don’t they know there is “nothing new under the sun?”

John Wayne taught us the importance of grit on the big screen in his Oscar-winning portrayal of    the infamous U.S. Marshall, Rooster Cogburn, in True Grit.

Remember the story of Charles Howard, the owner of Sea Biscuit? He knew that “his horse was too small, his jockey was too big, his trainer was too old, and he was too dumb to know the difference,” but he knew Sea Biscuit could win, in spite of it all. It was grit that took Sea Biscuit across the finish line in 1938 to beat the Triple Crown horse, War Admiral, by four links.

William Wilberforce (you may recognize a name similarity) used grit to fight without ceasing for more than 40 years until slavery was abolished in England on July 26, 1833. Wilberforce died three days later.  

Christopher Columbus used grit to find the Americas we call home.

I could go on and on citing every Olympic athlete who has ever competed and many others from all walks of life…grit, perseverance, determination, stickability.  

The idea of using grit to accomplish a goal is not new…enabling children to develop grit in this day and time is new. For too long we have made things too easy for children. We have done everything we could to keep children from experiencing failure and disappointment which is how grit is developed. Consequently, they crumble when the inevitable happens…they receive a lower than normal grade, they lose a race, they’re not chosen, they must accept no. Without the opportunity to overcome difficulties, our children cannot experience the joy of victory.

How do we encourage the development of grit? Go back to the definition of stickability—the ability to stick to the task at hand no matter the obstacles so that your purpose is met. The key is the “so that”, the compelling reason for sticking to the task until you master it…SO THAT you can fulfill your purpose.

Manners of the Heart does it by teaching children to do their best to become all they are meant to be SO THAT they can help someone else become all they are meant to be.

All of us need a purpose beyond ourselves to make sticking with it worth it. Children do, too.

From our hearts to yours,

 

 

To enjoy Sea Biscuit’s real-life triumph, take a look at the original footage from his legendary victory:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT2MPNCqgM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching With Character or Not

How is it that in one grade level in the same school there can be such a vast difference in achievement?What separates a high poverty, high achieving school from a high poverty, low achieving school?

In both instances, there are common denominators: the same curriculum, same schedule, same environment and same mix of kids.

The difference? Teaching with character or not.
Let me give you two examples:
In spite of the odds, a first grade teacher in one of the toughest schools in our district has a classroom full of achieving students. It didn’t take long to understand why, when I visited her classroom last week.

We were greeted at the door by one of her students. (Just standard classroom policy.) All of the students looked up and greeted us with comments like “Glad you’re here” and “Welcome to our class.” (First graders, mind you.) The students were engaging and inquisitive as they listened to the lesson. Our questions were answered with enthusiasm and eagerness for more. Another student walked us to the door as we exited. (Did I mention all of this was without prompting from the teacher?)
                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
I complimented the teacher on her students’ behavior. Her reply, “They make getting up every day easy. I have little lives to shape and little minds to teach.”

Five years ago, a magnanimous principal took over a failing school in a rough part of town. Today, that school is a B+ school and continuing to improve. The teachers are much the same, the population of kids didn’t change. The difference? She raised the bar of expectation for her students and teachers. No longer were disrespectful attitudes and speech allowed. No longer were tests the only thing that mattered. The instructional time allowed for the teaching of manners. She made character the number one goal of the school. Character in the administration. Character in the faculty. Character in the students. And academics followed.

The definitive argument that character education and academic achievement have a direct correlation is right before our eyes. Teachers and schools who use character to teach character succeed. Those who don’t…don’t.
Why would anyone not use this simple formula for the education of children: “Little lives to shape and little minds to teach”…in that order?

From our hearts to yours,