The value of Grit and 'being Gritty'

I recently watched this fantastic TED talk on GRIT that is being shared across the internet. It is a video worthy of your time. 

Click here to watch this short TED talk

Angela Lee Duckworth, a University of Pennsylvania Psychologist defines grit as the “perseverance and passion for long-term goals".  In a blog post by Jenny Williams, she states it "... is a better indicator of future earnings and happiness than either IQ or talent.” ( https://afineparent.com/building-character/what-is-grit.html )

Duckworth explains her research underscores the need for us all to be ‘gritty’ when helping our kids develop grit.

How can a parent help a child develop grit, you ask?

Duckworth acknowledges that she does not fully know. (Refreshing, right?) A child is unique. Learning is not ‘one size fits all’. We must all learn to learn. How successful you are as lifelong learner is determined by more than just a measurement of IQ or talent.

Learning is a lifelong function and needs a marathon mindset. Learning is not ‘done’ at the end of a grade, or when a project is turned in for a grade.  Learning is not a sprint. Learning is more than memorization and the ability to perform certain tasks and skills. Learning also includes the ability to wait, the ability to reset after failure, and to know that failure is not a permanent state.

Duckworth highlights a ‘growth mindset’, referencing a study from Stanford University, as an important concept to share with students. It actually empowers them to understand what happens to the brain when we learn. The growth mindset concept allows the student to adapt, to wait when needed, and to learn in the struggle. Learning to wait for an hour before playing a video game, waiting your turn in line, waiting to buy something with money saved over time is all part of the ‘growth mindset’ and will ensure a student’s ability to be gritty and thrive.

Duckworth challenges us all to be “more gritty”.

Creating a plan of action that guides our family through busy and demanding times also helps build grit.  It supports a marathon mindset and moves us away from constantly running around putting out fires.

Here is a powerful tool to help your family develop a ‘growth mindset’ and foster grit:  

https://www.finetunedfamilies.com/smaart-goals-land/

Fun Reading Ideas to Help Your Family Thrive

After the festivities of the 4^th of July fizzle out, we have the long hot days of summer ahead of us. What is your survival plan?...And why just survive? Why not thrive….AND have FUN!

The one thing we all can do and it really does not cost any money at all is read. After all, the family that reads together, grows together.

I heard an author comment on his approach to reading in his family recently on the podcast “Think Out Loud” (OPB/ NPR). He recommends that you think of your kids’ reading in the summer like time at the amusement park. Letting them pick the ride correlates to letting them pick what they read in the summer.  When I think about it, it makes sense. If they pick the item/topic to read, they will read it. He keeps it simple by making sure they all read together twice a day. Around breakfast time—a luxury for him he acknowledges as he starts the day with the family due to his ‘hallway commute’ of a flight of stairs to his writing office. And they read together in the evening – all electronics off. Yes, we all have books on digital devices, but I like his approach. Unplug and use the time to read aloud to each other, or read around the fire pit or in comfy hammocks or chairs. Your children will thank you for this delightful and delicious summer time routine that can be a tradition they practice all lifelong. To ensure there is enough to read during the evening reading time, his family goes to the library once a week—sometimes more.

There are a lot of fun ways to make your summer enjoyable and thriving.  Intentional, easy, fun activities to add to the daily reading ritual will make for a summer that sparkles with interest instead of frustration. With this basic EASY, Low or NO Cost plan in place, your week will go by fast as you share with family and friends wonderful slow connecting activities like taking walk, playing a board game and perhaps a game of tag or corn hole.  

What would it be like if you and your family friends went to the library together? We have long been advocates of the local library here at Fine-Tuned Families (listen to our Wise Parent Wise Kids conversation with our local librarian here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHLaHYT-H9Q

Share with us over on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/finetunedfamilies/ how you and your family are choosing to thrive this summer by sharing reading time together. What is the book or topic that is hot for your young readers? We are wondering what we should read next… let us know how your summer amusement of reading and connecting plays out!

Teacher Talk Series: The Elementary Years - 4 Ideas To Help Students Succeed This Year

The "Wise Parents, Wise Kids" video chat between Janet Bonnin, Angela Woodrow and guest Karen Aitken, Veteran Elementary School Teacher, was really fun and filled with ideas!  You can see that by going here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eog47S36Tqc

If you'd rather read about it, here are some highlights:

FTF:  As a fantastic veteran teacher, please share some ideas to help students become successful learners.

Karen Aitken:

1         Teach problem solving.  Being brilliant doesn’t mean you have memorized everything.  Instead, I emphasize how to use resources, such as notes they’ve taken, to find the answers.  It is not what you do for kids that make them successful; it is what you’ve trained them to do for themselves.

2        Practice organizational skills.  Create habits of self-awareness and self-sufficiency. Put some structure in the classroom (or home) of where things go – completed assignments, backpacks, etc.  The more organized a child is, the less stress a child feels, especially when time is tight.  The homework is not done until it is in your folder which is in your backpack.

3         Learn to be an Active Listener.  Help children create Active Listening habits by periodically checking in to ask what they have heard in their own words.  With encouragement and practice, kids can become an Active Listener, which is important to great communication. 

4         Take ownership of yourself.  Students are often used to someone doing things for them.  Instead, encourage them to show responsibility for their tasks, like getting homework done, without prompting. Being responsible for choices, actions and emotions at this young age are building blocks for success and confidence as they grow.  “Reader’s Theater Work Ethic Kits” help kids learn real life examples of grownups who don’t have good habits.

Resources for Parents and Teachers:

www.classroommastery.com

www.teacherspayteachers.com

www.theteachingexperiencepodcast.com

Parent Tip:  Create a place at home where your child keeps their backpack, jacket, lunchbox, shoes, etc.  This can help them learn to be organized by having a routine, and relieve the anxiety of panicking while looking for these items when they are trying to get ready for school.

Remember, parents and teachers are the significant adults in children’s lives.  When we have the expectation and verbalize that a child will be successful, the child rises to that level.

The Wise Parent Wise Kid Summer Series conversation: Geocaching

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The Wise Parent Wise Kid Summer Series conversation: Geocaching

We had the fun pleasure of connecting and chatting with these two. A nurse practitioner and her daughter, a 2-grade teacher, who love to go geocaching. It is a great low – no cost way to get outside, explore your local area or a new area and discover treasure!

Geocaching actually is the ‘21^st century’ treasure hunting experience based on Letter-boxing, a tried and true and ‘very un-techy’ activity created in 1854 in England!

MH: Hi I’m Maureen Havrilla

FTF: Share a few fun facts about yourself so we can get to know you:

MH:  Wife, Mother, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Runner.  I love to travel and camp, and love all things Disney.

Passion:  Kids!

Favorite Foods: Food! And chocolate – it’s a food group! And coffee.  And chocolate and coffee together

Favorite thing to do to take a break: read, take a run, crochet – and always travel!

Favorite Quote/ Quip: “Venture outside your comfort zone.  The rewards are worth it.” -Rapunzel, Tangled

I am most proud of: my kids, they have become fabulous adults

I wish I could: travel more!

CH: And I am Casey Havrilla

FTF: Share a few fun facts about yourself so we can get to know you:

CH: I am a teacher of second graders, a Native Texan, and a huge hockey fan.

Passion:  Teaching our future generation a love of learning.

Favorite Foods: baked potatoes, crème brulee, and anything that involves a caprese salad

Favorite thing to do to take a break: cooking/baking, reading

Favorite Quote/ Quip: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”.  -Wayne Gretzy

I am most proud of: all of my students

I wish I could: multitask and be in more than one place at the same time

FTF: What is GEOCACHING?

Casey and Maureen: a real world treasure hunt! It’s a great way to get out with your family and friends and experience something new.  It’s the thrill of the hunt and the feeling of excitement when you find the cache – big or small!

FTF: How did you get started:

Casey: My best friend got me started

Maureen: Casey! And I have since shared with cousins and friends!

FTF: How can a family get started with geocaching?

Casey: Download a Geocache app, I use the official Geocaching app. I can get badges for collecting different states.

Maureen: I have a different app, but they all show about the same thing. Mine was free, but some have small charges.   

FTF: What are some of your best tips for geocaching for families?

Casey: Don’t give up, keep looking.

Maureen: whenever you travel, look for available caches – makes traveling interesting and fun

FTF: What is a good age to start geocaching?

Casey: if they can walk and talk independently, they should be able to understand with a parent’s help.

Maureen: I have shared with two friends with kids, one had a 9 year old daughter who loved it, and one had a three boys, the oldest two were 4 and 8 and they had fun.  Walking is a big part, so at least able to hike a little.

FTF: So far, what has been your ‘favorite find’?

Casey: The one in Central Park

Maureen: The one we have yet to find at Inks Lake – still looking!

FTF: Have you found any caches outside of Texas:

Casey and Maureen: Yes! That is what makes it fun, we check where ever we travel, even on the way to the grocery store!

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Fun Facts: where did Geocaching come from?

Letter Boxing– 1854 UK

Geocaching—2000, OR

ConQuest–2004, B.U.G: use your camera phone to capture code hidden around your city

Plundr– 2007, Dartmouth College dorm room, WIFI hotspots are contested islands to ‘capture’

Pokémon GO!–2016, Nintendo: Hunt and collect

FAST FACTS:

Geocaching was started in May of 2000. It started in Beaverton OR.

As GPS became more accessible and and accurate for everyone the process adapted from Letter boxing was started

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching

How to start Geocaching:

You need to set up a user account on a

geocaching website. A good site to use is www.geocaching.com

What do you pack?

https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2013/02/here-are-9-geocaching-tools-what-else-should-you-pack

Today’ Resources:

A video:

https://www.geocaching.com/play

http://familysponge.com/play/family-adventures/geocaching-with-kids

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-12/long-before-pokemon-go-there-was-geocaching