Friday, January 11, 2013

How Children Success By Paul Tough

JHMS loves this book.


Similar to 7 character traits:  7 Key Decisions from Andy Andrews and 6 skills from Second Step:
Character Traits:
1. Grit
2. Optimism
3. Self-Control
4. Zest
5. Social Intelligence
6. Gratitude
7.  Curiosity

6 Skills from Second Step:
1.  Empathy (Social Intelligence)
2.  Communication (Social Intelligence)
3.  Bullying Prevention (Self-control, social intelligence)
4.  Managing Emotions (Self-control, social intelligence)
5.  Goal setting (Curiousity, Grit, Self-control)
6.  Substance (abuse?)  (Social Intelligence)

7 Key Decisions:
1) I am responsible. (Self-control)/(Goal Setting)
2) I seek wisdom. (Social Intelligence, gratitude, curiosity)/(Communication, Goal Setting)
3) I am a person of action. (Grit, zest)/(Goal Setting)
4) I am certain. (Optimism, zest, social intelligence)/(Goal Setting, Manage emotions)
5) I choose happiness. (Optimism, zest, gratitude, social intelligence)/(Manage emotions)
6) I am compassionate; I have a forgiving heart. (Social Intelligence, Gratitude)/(Empathy, Bully prevention)
7) I persist without exception. (Grit, Self-control, zest, curiosity)/(Communication, Goal Setting)


State of the Union Address, 2013:  "Tonight, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, there is much progress to report." ~ Obama
Read more: http://swampland.time.com/2013/02/12/president-obamas-2013-state-of-the-union-speech-transcript/#ixzz2KkQfvdhz)

Consider, though:  Interesting post by Mike Rose - "Saving the Poor with Science" - a bit of a warning.

Kipp Schools Website:

Fun blog post with lots of links from Non-Freaked Out Approach to CCSS.  

Seven Keys for Implementing Character in Your School
1. Believe It and Model It: Breathe life into the James Baldwin quote: “The children are ours. Every single one of them… children have never been very good at listening to their elders but have never failed to imitate them.”
2. Name It: Give the intangible and often-unnamed a name. Only by labelling and talking about the character strengths that Martin Seligman and Chris Peterson identified can we embark on the journey to develop them.
3. Find It: Introduce kids to real-world and fictional examples that display the various character strengths.
4. Feel It: Help kids and adults feel the positive effects of focusing on, and developing, their own character strengths.
5. Integrate It: Create dual-purpose experiences and lessons that involve the character strengths. Learn more about how character is integrated into the KIPP Framework for Excellent Teaching.
6. Encourage It: Provide people with growth mindset praise (i.e. precise, descriptive praise) around character.
7. Track It: Record and discuss progress toward character goals regularly.



Jenny is going to have students read articles about each of the qualities:  GritSelf-controlZest,

Social intelligence, GratitudeOptimismCuriosity.

Here are her findings:

Website/s on Optimism:


Website on Problem Solving:

Website on Resiliency:

Website on Grit:

Website on Grit, Curiosity, Self-Discipline, and Zest:

Kipp Schools Website:


Website on Intellectual Curiosity:

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