Grit by Angela Duckworth

Captain America: Civil War opened at movie theaters this weekend.  He has GRIT.  It’s Mother’s Day; mothers have GRIT. Angela Duckworth does, too.  She is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and a 2013 MacArthur Fellow who will be speaking at New Trier this week about her new book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Duckworth will speak on Wednesday, May 11 beginning at 7pm in the Gaffney Auditorium (385 Winnetka Avenue).  This will follow sessions held that day at noon (Loyola University) and 3:30 (Northside College Prep); all are sponsored by Family Action Network and a number of local initiatives.  

Grit tells about Duckworth’s research and her development of the Grit Scale, a better predictor of who would leave and who would stay during West Point’s Beast Barracks than the admissions measure involving grades, physical ability and leadership potential. Her book has three sections; first she explains “what Grit is and why it matters” with other real world examples like turnover and rejection experienced by sales staff or predicting graduation for Chicago Public Schools’ students.  Then, she discusses “growing Grit from the inside out” and finally “growing Grit from the outside in,” including a profile of NFL quarterback Steve Young and his parents’ “tough love.” Duckworth shares interviews with other high achievers and provides a list of recommended reading and extensive research notes. Throughout, she explains that if adults set high expectations and provide support, kids up their game.  Think about the examples in your own teaching or family that you have seen.

A very few quotes and insights from Grit:

“Our potential is one thing.  What we do with it is quite another.”

“Any effort you make ultimately counts twice toward your goal.”

“Grit can be learned, regardless of I.Q. or circumstances.”
To hear more, follow though by attending one of Duckworth’s presentations this week.  
Added May 11:  David Brooks (New York Times) on  "Putting Grit in its Place"

Connected Educator Month and other Professional Development

October (Connected Educator Month) is always a busy time and this year is no exception.  Be sure to take advantage of the many professional opportunities.  Here are just a few:

Digital Shift -- This event will be held on Wed. October 14 from 9am to 4pm, Central time. 

Digital Shift is a virtual conference that is free and always full of great resources.  For example, Follett is one of the gold sponsors and Library Journal recently interviewed Nader Qaimari, their Senior Vice President of Content Solutions and Services, who shared some thoughts on user interface and library resources like eBooks. Even if you cannot make the entire day, register to be able to access the archives.

        Library 2.0 - This is the fifth annual Library2.0 worldwide event, another virtual conference to be held on October 20 from 9am until 10pm, Central time.  

        Family Action Network Speakers –a local opportunity featuring a truly impressive array of speakers and well worth investigating if you are in the area.  On Friday, October 9th Sherry Turkle will be speaking at the Skokie School in Winnetka.  If you missed her recent New York Times Op-ed piece, “Stop Googling. Let’s Talk,” do look for it and we will be adding a review on her forthcoming book, Reclaiming Conversation, to our book blog soon. The following Monday, October 12th, Anne-Marie Slaughter will be speaking at the Cornog.  She gained attention from a piece in The Atlantic a few years ago and also has a new book, Unfinished Business, about work/life balance which we reviewed in more detail here. Then on Wednesday, October 14, Julie Lythcott-Haims will give a talk at Glenbrook North High School. Her new book, How to Raise an Adult, was one that I purchased and forwarded to advisor chairs earlier this summer. (And that is just the FAN speakers for October!)

 If you have other professional development ideas to suggest, please let us know. 

Rising Strong with Dr. Brene Brown at New Trier

Dr. Brene Brown, a best-selling author and research professor at the University of Houston, will be speaking at New Trier later this week as part of a program sponsored by FAN (Family Action Network). No-cost tickets are needed to attend and the Thursday (Sept. 3rd) evening event looks likely to be standing room only!  Dr. Brown spoke at New Trier a few years ago and Thursday’s talk coincides with the recent publication of her newest book Rising Strong. 

I found her writing in Rising Strong to be gentle and encouraging, full of stories and inspiration, and obviously written from her heart. In chapters which center around reckoning, rumble and revolution, she encourages her readers to explore their emotions, to learn from failure, to accept vulnerability.  She says, "Here's how I see the progression of my work: The Gifts of Imperfection - Be You. Daring Greatly - Be all in. Rising Strong - Fall. Get up. Try again." 

If you have not already RSVP’d for the talk at New Trier, it is likely that FAN will post some audio/video as they have for other speakers.  In the meantime, here is Dr. Brown’s 2010 TEDTalk (which already has over 21 million viewers).

And a link to her website: http://brenebrown.com/.  I expect to see faculty/staff, parents and students in the audience on Thursday, especially since the theme for IGGS this year is resilience and because as a community we work so hard to respect, share, and connect with each other's stories.