Written by David S. Wills · August 8, 2017
Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success.
Listening
Watch the TED talk, listen carefully and answer the questions below:
Comprehension Questions
- How old was she when she left her management job?
- What did she teach to seventh graders?
- What did she study at graduate school?
- What does she think is the most shocking thing about grit?
- What is the best idea for building grit in kids called?
Gap – fill
Watch the video again from 04:52 to 05:29 and fill in the blanks:
So far, the best idea I’ve (6) _____ about building grit in kids is something called “growth mindset.” This is an (7) _____ developed at Stanford University by Carol Dweck, and it is the belief that the ability to learn is not fixed, that it can (8) _______ with your effort. Dr. Dweck has shown that when kids read and learn about the (9) _______and how it changes and grows in response to challenge, they’re much more likely to persevere when they fail, because they don’t believe that failure is a (10) __________ condition.
True or False?
Listen to the material again and answer true or false to the following statements:
- Grit is usually unrelated to measures of talent.
- Growth mindset is a great idea for building grit.
- She started studying grit in New York public schools.
- She went with her research team to West Point Naval Academy.
- Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.
Answers
- 27
- math
- psychology
- how little we know about it
- growth mindset
- heard
- idea
- change
- brain
- permanent
- (T)
- (T)
- (F) it was in Chicago public schools
- (F) they went to West Point Military Academy
- (T)
Discussion