Grit in the Classroom: Building Perseverance for Excellence in Today's Students

by Laila Sanguras

The combination of sustained hard work and resiliency, grit is the difference between those who give up and those who don't. Grit in the Building Perseverance for Excellence in Today's Students assists educators in creating a learning environment that fosters grit development for all students, regardless of ability. Each chapter includes stories to illustrate the research and ideas presented and ends with discussion questions that can be used to continue the conversation. In an era of talent development and the pursuit of excellence, learners must be equipped with the perseverance that is essential to reaching high levels of success. This book provides a rationale for cultivating grit in the classroom with the goal of propelling this topic into discussions of building passion and talent in today's students.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching

166 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are an educator looking for a "cut to the chase" book about grit, this one is for you. A former middle school teacher, Sanguras speaks straight to the heart and the concerns of a real teacher. This book is readable and funny, but also based on solid research (think Renzulli & Dweck). That alone makes it a great book study pick for a PLC, but it also happens to include discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

Three things set this book apart from other professional books. First, it's incredibly quotable! Sanguras says things like, "Grit only exists when sustained perseverance is paired with passion." And this: "The key is to acknowledge what you cannot control in your students' lives. And then create experiences that allow them to achieve mastery amidst the struggle."

Second, she takes the idea of differentiated instruction to a whole new level when she connects the concept of grit with gifted education. If you love Ian Byrd, you'll also love this book because it aligns with his ideas about things like boredom and motivation.

Third, she includes a terrific annotated list of resources. A little gold mine for teachers!

[April Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grit in the Classroom was an engaging and inspiring read. Grit has become a buzzword that teachers, parents, and employers are recognizing as something that matters significantly and also appears to be lacking in many people. In an age where we are used to having everything instantly, we recognize that we need to be cultivating the ability to persevere. Sanguras discusses that grit is formed at crossroads of sustained perseverance and passion. We have to encourage self-discipline and perseverance, but a large part of young people finding the motivation to persevere is helping them find and cultivate their interests and passions. The book is written in an easy-to-read format that balances research with humor and personal stories. There are many great lines and quotes throughout the book that make you want to highlight and right “Yes!” in the margins. Some of my favorite sections from the book discuss the importance of allowing kids to experience failure and boredom.

This book is a great resource for individual teachers looking to strengthen their own understanding of grit, as well as begin reflecting on how to cultivate grit in their own students. This book would also make a great book study for a campus or team of teachers looking to build a grittier school culture. Sanguras provides plenty of examples and ideas to get teachers, parents, and administrators thinking about ways to help cultivate grit in today’s students. She also provides a great list of resources at the back of the book.

[Shreya Hari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Laila Sanguras takes the concept of grit, defined as the marriage between passion and perseverance, one step further. It is self-evident that grit is a necessary factor for success and achievement, but Sanguras actually provides a methodology for introducing, instilling, and assessing grit within the classroom. This book is a must-read for any person involved in the education field and for parents, but I would encourage everyone to read it. As a student who read the book, I learned a lot about why grit is important and what I can do to build it. In addition to using anecdotes, charts, and references to other works, Sanguras adds a lot of credibility to her book from her own background of working in schools as a teacher and research analyst. Sanguras' occasional bouts of humor and relatable tone make the book all the more enjoyable to read.
The concepts discussed within this book have immense potential to change American classrooms for the better!

[William Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this book had a strong start by describing what it means to be gritty. She did reference Grit by Angela Duckworth quite a bit which will be next on my reading list and maybe more of what I am looking for. Once we got past the explanation of what grit was, the book kind of went down hill for me. I really didn’t get a whole lot out of relating it to students and teachers. I guess I’m trying to say that I was left with a greater impression from the beginning of the book than the end. There was also a lot of referencing to gifted students and it might have been more helpful if there was a greater attempt at targeting a blend of students or maybe high/medium/low end students. This book was decent and gave me some things to think about from a teaching perspective.

[Michelle Mohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I needed as a teacher right now! I cannot wait to implement so many of the strategies suggested in the book. The figures and charts were also super helpful in conceptualizing the concept of grit. If you are interested in this topic, reading this book will feel like having a heartfelt conversation with Sanguras. Teachers: flock to this text!

[Cheryl Meibos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reinforced many of ideas about having high expectations and not being afraid to show passion and enthusiasm for school, books, reading, and the library. I like the idea of connecting what you are teaching with what the students care about.

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasure to read as the author has a fantastic voice and relatable concepts. This book helped me begin to rethink how I teach. A great resource as I will re-read pieces as I begin to use grit in my classroom. I highly recommend this book to revamp and revise teaching for student motivation.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book about using grit within the classroom. Many tips to bring into my teaching. Continued to keep my wheels spinning.

[Shari Cowger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am looking for a book study for my staff and this one had some good information but am not sure it's the right fit - hence the 4 stars

[Susan A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid read from the educational world. Easy to follow, well researched, and practical suggestions. I will be using this book to create SEL lessons for sure.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about adding grittiness to your classroom. Push kids to be comfortable in not knowing answers and becoming gritty to find and discover new possibilities.