Cognitive Capacity #5 Grit

There has been a great deal of research into the power of GRIT.  It is really all about self-control, determination and perseverance.  In some it is called stubbornness.  It can be a powerful gift, if a student learns how to use their determination in the right way.  

The problem is that many of our non-traditional learners, who have strong-wills, use that will-power to push against the authority in the classroom.  We need to find ways to help these strong-willed children develop their determination and perseverence, in essence their grit, and direct it towards meaningful activities.  

Wikipedia states that "In psychology, grit is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on a person's perseverance of effort combined with their passion for a particular long-term goal or end state (a powerful motivation to achieve an objective). This perseverance of effort helps people overcome obstacles or challenges to accomplishment and drives people to achieve."

I would beg to differ with the statement that grit is "non-cognitive".  Perhaps, a strong-will in itself is non-cognitive, but learning how to use it and direct it and control it is most definitely a cognitive capacity that can be developed.  Just ask any Marine Sargent.  What are they doing in their new recruits but developing grit?  

An interesting observation is that our students with ADHD seem to have terrible issues with grit.  They can't complete any of their assigned work.  They don't seem to be able to persevere through much of anything.  They are easily distracted and switch from one activity to the next in an instant.  But these observations have less to do with the strong will, than they have to do with the ability for these young people to work with their own will.  This is why it is necessary for the teachers to create activities that will help build the capacity to work with the will.  So, I would say that grit, is not a strong will, but grit IS the capacity to work with the strong will. If this would become the number one focus in our classrooms, our ADHD kids would flourish, and the supposed need to medicate these brilliant minds would be considered laughable.

Grit is highly related to self-control.  Self-control, which underlies delayed gratification, is a core component of grit. Angela Duckworth’s research defines grit as perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Gritty individuals are able to regulate their emotions and behaviors, allowing them to stay committed even when immediate rewards are unavailable.  The ability to delay gratification as a child, as indicated by the famous Marshmallow test, is associated with a number of meaningful measures of success in adulthood.

Here are some ideas on how to build grit in our students.

• Mindfulness training: Helps improve emotional regulation and self-awareness, which are essential for resisting impulsive behavior.
• Goal setting: Encourages students to focus on long-term achievements, building the persistence needed for grit and the patience required for delayed gratification.
• Incremental rewards: Providing small rewards along the way to a larger goal helps reinforce delayed gratification while maintaining motivation.