Resources on Grit and Perseverance

Theories and Research on Grit

• The Key to Success? Grit: Watch researcher Angela Lee Duckworth explain her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success, in this TED Talk. (TED Talks, 2013)
• True Grit: Read an overview article with information for both beginning and experienced educators on Angela Duckworth’s research on grit. (Association for Psychological Science, 2013)
• How the Research Supports Social-Emotional Learning: Examine a Q&A with Daniel Goleman for information about grit – including some of its criticisms -- and the research on social and emotional learning. (Edutopia, 2014)
• If the Tough Gets Going, When Should the Tough Give Up: Review information about a study from the Journal of Research in Personality that suggests that there are risks involved with having too much grit. (USC News, 2015)
• Academic Tenacity: Mindsets and Skills that Promote Long-Term Learning: Read a report summarizing the research on non-academic factors like growth mindset, grit, and self-efficacy that allow students to work harder and smarter over time. (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2014)
• How To Foster Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance: An Educator’s Guide: Browse highlights of a report issued by the Department of Education’s Office of Technology, "Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance—Critical Factors for Success in the 21st Century." (KQED's MindShift, 2013)
• How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character: Read about one educator’s takeaways from Paul Tough’s book. (Edutopia, 2012)

Understand the Debate About Grit

• Don’t Believe the Hype About Grit, Pleads the Scientist Behind the Concept: Hear Duckworth's concerns about misapplications of the grit research, and learn more about her current investigations. (Science of Us/New York Magazine, 2016)
• What’s Wrong With Grit: Consider factors related to the research on grit and grit’s place in the larger puzzle of human development. (The Berkeley Blog, 2014)
• Got Grit: Examine important questions raised within the context of discussions of grit. (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
• What Is Grit? Can Grit Be Taught? Who Is Responsible for Grit: Listen to a brief and targeted 10-minute discussion among educators on grit -- with information about support, caveats, and criticisms. (BAM Radio, 2015)
• Grit, Luck, and Money: Explore an outstanding set of articles/podcast that navigates the challenges faced by disadvantaged students entering college, many of whom struggle to get to graduation. Going beyond grit to the need for ongoing supports, Emily Hanford profiles the support model at work in YES Prep Public Schools, a charter school network Edutopia profiled in 2009: "College-Bound Culture in Houston." (American Public Media, 2012)

Take on Grit in Schools and Classrooms

• Teaching Grit Cultivates Resilience and Perseverance: Learn about fifth grade teacher Amy Lyon’s curriculum based on Angela Duckworth’s ideas about grit. (Edutopia, 2014)

• True Grit: The Best Measure of Success and How to Teach It: Explore all the ways that one educator is tackling grit in her classroom and school. (Edutopia, 2014)
• 5 Steps to Foster Grit in the Classroom: Discover five ways that educators can prepare students to take on challenging work and solve big problems (Edutopia, 2014).
• Teach Kids to Use the Four-Letter Word: Find three activities that you can implement tomorrow to get students thinking about effort instead of outcome, ask them reflect about experiences with struggle, and create forums for class-wide discussions of grit. (Edutopia, 2014)
• Learning Mindsets: The 'Grit' of Learning: Learn about several strategies pursued by the mathematics department at Baruch College Campus High School in Manhattan to support student effort and shift student mindsets. (Homeroom/U.S. Department of Education, 2015).
• Teachers Weigh in on How to Identify Grit: Learn about a report on LAUSD schools from Educators4Excellence, a teacher-led organization, featuring findings, case studies, and grit checklists from Los Angeles schools; strengthening school culture was cited by a majority of schools as critical to success. (Hechinger Report, 2013)