Mod 3: Developing grit

Developing grit

🎯Describe a at least two ways for overcoming setbacks and obstacles when trying to pursue a goal

🎯apply the ideas of a growth mindset to their own lives

Lesson 1: Learning how to overcome obstacles and setbacks

Activity:

Invite students to make a list of activities they enjoy doing that require practice to do well (e.g., playing a sport or musical instrument, dancing, painting). Read the following scenario out loud:

At band practice, your teacher only talks about the song you’re learning, but does so without explaining what they are doing. You’re expected to learn by listening and watching. You never play an instrument until the day of the first concert.

Ask students to comment on the effectiveness of this method of learning. Ask students how well they think they’d do when asked to perform without practicing first. (Students might respond: although you might learn some fundamentals, you can’t learn just by watching; you need to practice to improve your technique; you need to know where your skills are weak so you know what to work on.)

Point out that for many of the most important skills we need in life, we don’t always get sufficient practice before we’re expected to demonstrate them. Often, they are skills we learn by watching others, which students have determined is not the best way to learn. Invite the class to suggest what some of these life skills might be. If students are unsure, explain that this lesson will help them identify these skills and how they apply to students’ lives now and in the future.

Explain to students that Overcoming Obstacles will give them an opportunity to learn and practice skills they need to succeed in school, at home, in their communities, and on the job.

Video:

Reflective moment:

Discuss with your group what is one example of an obstacle that you have already gone through and talk about whether or not you overcame the obstacle.

Answer this reflective question as a reply to my discussion post! __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 2: Growing a growth Mindset

Activity:

Write down a list of negative or limiting statements we can sometimes make about ourselves (e.g. "I'm not good enough" or "I'm too ______"). Next, show them how to place a positive spin on the phrase by merely altering the language we use.

For example:

“I’m not smart enough to figure this out” …

… can become “I haven’t got this figured out yet, but I will if I just keep trying.”

In doing so, learners will start to make simple connections to how to change how we speak to improve how we feel about ourselves. Encourage them to give it a try with the rest of the sentences you've written for them.

Here are some simple examples of negative statements to begin with that they can quickly turn around with just a few changes:

"I don't believe in myself."
"I'm not smart enough to do that."
"I'm not good enough to _____."
"I don't have good ideas."
"I'm not very strong."
"I'm not an exceptional person

Video:

Answer this question:

What is one aspect of your life that you think has the opportunity to have a different outcome with a growth mindset?