Introduction

The UK''s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility recently proposed the adoption by schools of specific interventions in the areas of resilience and character; meanwhile, across the Atlantic, an end-of-high-school ''score'' for grit is also being considered in the USA. In line with this growing consensus, an increasing body of evidence suggests that cultivating these competencies is key to success both in school and in later life.

About the Book

In Developing Tenacity, the second instalment in the Pedagogy for a Changing World series, Lucas and Spencer show educators how. Delving beyond ''grit'' and ''growth mindset'', and encompassing more than the formal curriculum, Developing Tenacity draws on the co-authors'' research at the University of Winchester''s Centre for Real-World Learning to offer a powerful synthesis of what it takes for learners to persevere when confronted with challenges.

Key Concepts

The resulting analysis depicts the true value of tenacity inside and outside the educational setting and provides teachers with action-oriented strategies as to how the four key ''habits'' of tenacity—confidence, control, commitment, and connectivity—can be developed in learners.

Teaching Methods and Strategies

The wealth of teaching and learning methods presented is accompanied by practical suggestions on how to embed tenacity more systematically into the curriculum, providing plenty of stimuli for lesson planning and for the drip-feeding of everyday activities which boost learners'' agency and self-efficacy.

The authors also investigate the effectiveness of various pedagogical approaches including developmental self-evaluation, deliberate practice, and service learning, and share inventive assessment methods which teachers can employ to track learners'' progress along the way.

Case Studies and Advice

Lucas and Spencer then go further by showcasing case studies that illustrate the successful adoption of a capabilities approach by various educational institutions, and offer expert advice on how teachers can overcome any potential obstacles as they journey towards cultivating a tenacious learning culture in their classrooms.

Target Audience and Additional Content

Suitable for all teachers and school leaders in both primary and secondary settings who want to instil a strong sense of tenacity in their pupils'' approach to learning.

Click here to watch Prof Bill Lucas and Prof Guy Claxton''s video ''Putting the heart and the hand back into schools''.

Developing Tenacity has been named a finalist in the 2018 INDIES Book of the Year Awards in the education category.