Smart is not something you are. It is something you achieve by working hard.
As we – students, co-teachers, families, and faculty – all take a brave new step into this school year, let’s make this our motto.
This means that our goal is to grow.
We push our students to grow in character through academics because the Lord has commanded us to grow as believers in our sanctification (I Thess. 4:3). Indeed, the very purpose of sanctification is so that we grow to become more and more like Christ. And isn’t it so like our gracious Father to give us all we need to be able to fulfill something He has commanded us to do, right down to the power of the Holy Spirit working in us (Phil. 2:13, Matt. 19:26)!
Part of encouraging our students in this is ensuring that they each are equipped with GRIT – Growth, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity. Grit does not mean that everything a student does must be trying, and that we must eliminate the “fun” in learning. Grit does mean that we need to teach our students how to embrace the challenges, pain, and frustration they will come across as they travel on their academic journey. This will prepare them for whatever other journeys the Lord has in store for them later on.
The best gift we can give our children is to teach them to love challenges. This is a foundational part of shaping our students into independent, life-long learners. The ultimate goal is that they learn how to respond in joy to challenges, suffering, setbacks and failures, in the hopes that one day our students, too, will also have the GRIT to able to sing the Lord’s praises from a prison cell if that is what is required of them!
What can you do at home to encourage your children to grow in hard things?
- Be mindful of how you speak. Of others, yourself, and your student.
- Praise your children when they are attempting to overcome a hard thing.
- Don’t be a “snow-plow parent.” Remember that academics is the battlefield upon which we build a child’s character. You need to allow them to encounter the challenges to build the character.
- Give truly constructive feedback. Don’t include excuses or labels when discussing a challenging situation with your student.
- Remember the power of the word yet. Even an “F” is a “not yet” grade!
- Be mindful of where your student is finding their identity and value. If they are finding it in the praise of others, or in the academic progress or grades, remind them that they are priceless because they are created by a creative and good God who loves them and wants what’s best for them. Then remind them that at this moment, this challenging situation is what’s best for them!
To develop and encourage a culture of learning, we need to empower our children to understand the importance of the fact that with effort, everyone can grow and change.
Ultimately, we must do everything we can to make sure that we are pointing our children to where their true identity is, and where their true value lies!
