ABSTRACT
This chapter examines some of the definitions and theories related to grit, considers factors and qualities that matter in the long haul, and the ways that these are reflected—or not—in a classroom environment. The general understanding among psychologists is that if a child can learn to delay gratification, then subsequent positive outcomes will follow. Angela Duckworth's understanding of grit came into greater clarity when she realized that she had assumed that "those for whom things came easily would continue to outpace their classmates" and that she had been "distracted by talent". As teachers consider the benefits of managing fear for students whose dispositions or families influence their understanding of "success," they can also imagine ways that classroom environments diminish or harness fear. An argument can be made that the purpose of instilling grit in young children is to encourage them to persist along their paths toward clear and measurable goals.
