Here’s the reason why some students fail and others succeed

Do you ever wonder what’s the difference between straight A students and students who have trouble passing their class?

Here’s the reason why some students fail and others succeed

For years, many believe that IQ has a lot to do when it comes to a person’s ability to excel in class, but a shocking discovery by Angela Lee Duckworth, an educator-turned-psychologist, says otherwise.

During her talk for TED, Duckworth revealed what she discovered while teaching math to seventh grades in a New York Public School. Realizing that IQ wasn’t the only factor separating successful students from those having difficulty, Duckworth looked into data in military, spelling bees, classrooms and companies to determine the separating factor.

Apparently, grit is a predictor of success. More than talent and IQ, grit has a greater significant correlation to high school graduation regardless of family income and social status.

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Duckwork explained.

So how exactly do we form grit?

Duckworth explained that there are not enough studies that show what actually forms grit. However, she noted that an individual doesn’t need to be talented in order to build grit.

“So far, the best idea I’ve heard about building grit in kids is something called “growth mindset.” This is an idea developed at Stanford University by Carol Dweck, and it is the belief that the ability to learn is not fixed, that it can change with your effort,” Duckworth said.

Duckworth added that when kids develop a growth mindset, they’re much more likely to persevere when they experience failure because they don’t think failure is a permanent condition.

Watch the video.


-- Mini, The Summit Express



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