Teaching Grit and Mindset in Afterschool Programs

An easy-to-use, hands-on guide for understanding and teaching the success skills - grit and mindset - in the afterschool program environment. Are you working with kids your afterschool program who have potential but don't want to do anything? Here is a commonsense resource for busy afterschool program leaders and their staffs who face the challenges of helping kids increase their perseverance and develop the mindset and motivation to complete homework and fully engage in out-of-school learning experiences. This book is packed full of ready-to-use professional development, resources, trips, vignettes, and instructional activities. It is organized in four parts, five chapters within each part. Part I reviews research about mindset theory, grit, social emotional learning and connects those findings to practice in schools and afterschool programs. Part II outlines grit and mindset needs of adult employees. Part III includes strategies for teaching growth mindset and grit characteristics for children and youth. Part IV addresses the role that parents must play in learning about, adopting, nurturing, and developing growth mindset and grit. Conceptual frameworks for including grit and mindset discussions in daily interactions, conferences, extracurricular activities, social functions, and family night activities are presented. This book should be read by: -early childhood, afterschool, and youth development professionals. -school principals (and school leaders who work with before and after school care). -practicing and aspiring teachers. -21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program leaders, trainers, and consultants. -college and university instructors. -professional association leaders. -related afterschool youth programs (YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Parks & Recreation, etc.)