Embrace Challenge
This year the Parkside Elementary School theme, Embrace Challenge, is based on the premise of
Grit and Growth Mindset. Developing the trait of Grit in our children is the goal; however, to meet this
goal we must work together to cultivate in them a Growth Mindset which is a lifelong mindset that allows
one to embrace challenge and sustain effort in the face of setbacks. Grit and Growth Mindset will serve our
children academically and personally across settings in and out of the classroom.
Embrace Challenge - Grit and Growth Mindset
Teresa Ford, Parkside Elementary Principal
The concept of Mindset came from decades of research by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist
Carol Dweck. In her research Dweck proposed there are two mindsets: fixed and growth. According to Dweck,
those with a fixed mindset believe basic abilities, intelligence, and talents are fixed traits. Conversely, those who
have a growth mindset understand that ability, intelligence, and talent can be developed over time through
perseverance and sustained effort despite setbacks.
Awareness regarding the impact of Grit is at the forefront of education in recent years due to Angela Duckworth’s
ongoing research at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth maintains perseverance (Grit) may be as important
as intelligence in determining success. Duckworth conducted research on a wide range of students from West
Point cadets to the Scripps National Spelling Bee finalists; she concluded that Grit significantly contributed to
successful outcomes more than I.Q. and that there was no correlation between Grit and I.Q. According to
Duckworth, “Those who were grittier were higher achieving.”
Additionally, the Office of Education and Technology at the U.S. Department of Education recently released a
report titled, Promoting Grit, Tenacity, and Perseverance: Critical Factors for Success in the 21st Century; this
report examines how we might define, measure, and develop these skills in our students. According to the U. S.
Department of Education, Grit is defined as “perseverance to accomplish long-term or higher-order goals in the
face of challenges and setbacks, engaging the student’s psychological resources, such as their academic mindsets,
effortful control, and strategies and tactics”.
As partners in education, we can work to cultivate a Growth Mindset in our children at a young age to ultimately
develop in them Grit which is the ability to persevere and sustain effort despite setbacks. Together we can take
initial steps at home and school by simply changing how we praise our children; praise effort and process rather
than a product or ability. When children are praised for effort and process, they eventually begin to see challenge
as part of the learning curve to achieve a goal; that goal could be learning to do long division or learning to ride a
bike. Praising effort and process will provide our children with much needed feedback and motivation to continue
on despite challenges they may face along the way, thus we begin to cultivate a Growth Mindset. As part of a
Growth Mindset, self-talk becomes important – adults need to explicitly model the language used to praise
process and effort so our children begin to internalize the language and independently utilize it.
At the start of the school year our students will learn about how the brain is a muscle and that it needs exercise;
the exercise is challenge. Students will learn the brain grows and forms new connections every time they
persevere through a challenge. Additionally, as outlined above, at Parkside Elementary School we will begin to
praise effort and process along with modeling of the language. I do realize this will take time and effort on
everyone’s part; it is my hope that we can work together to cultivate a Growth Mindset in our children, ultimately
developing Grit which will serve them well in and out of the classroom.