How Can We Implement the Idea of Effort Over Smarts?

    After spending a few years of my teaching focused on gifted learners to my current position which focuses on struggling learners, I've had the privilege of seeing the full spectrum and one theme holds true in our society, and most disturbingly in the minds of children, "smarts" earns more respect than "efforts". How can we change this trend?
     The movement has begun and been in progress for many years. You will hear teachers correcting their feedback, but it's the children that haven't quite caught on. For adults, we learn from our steady investments into our learning or tackling of some obstacle, to revel in our accomplishments and fully appreciate our long trek. For children, it's not as apparent in their few years of experiences, and they yearn for those three words, "You're so smart."
     We should change this phrase to "Great effort." Children need to hear, "I love how hard you worked," rather than hear compliments that are hard to live up to, even if they were blessed with "giftedness." What happens to children when they don't get it right the first time? Besides a lower self-esteem, they will be more likely to give up, thinking they are not the right person for the job, when in all truth, they're the perfect person and it's only the first step in any process, much like in the writing process - absolutely necessary (and essential) to revise your "first draft"...and second, and third.
    When I taught my students the Engineering Design Process, (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve) I stressed the final step of "Improve," and actually motivated myself to use my teaching within my own efforts of writing - the idea that kept pushing me forward to finish my middle grade novel, Dress Collector, which was a course of four years of adding, rewriting, revising, and adding more, and my new chapter book, Devin and His Shape-Shifting Sister. Although the steps are interchangeable, all lead to that final reward of success by not giving up.
    Imagine how much more we could do if we take out the inner critic that says, "You're not smart enough," and replace it with the one that says, "You can do better. Keep at it." Wow.
    It's the continual hard work that brings success, regardless of your upbringing, circumstance, monetary capabilities, IQ. There are truly no excuses to not being successful in our endeavours if we put forth the effort and not be afraid to improve, improve, improve. So, how can we teach this to children, who need to hear it the most?

Supporting Literature: 
Celebrate Perseverance Through Picture Books

Children’s Book of Virtues by Wiliam J. Bennett  Published: 1995

A treasure of literature modeling good character and what it means to stick to something until the job is complete.

The Gigantic Little Hero: A Story About Perseverance by Matt Whitlock  Published 2001

Stresses the importance of effort through vibrant characters (and colors).

Jackson’s Plan by Linda Talley, Illustrated by Andra Chase  Published 1998

Contains an accompanying video and guided questions.

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by David Diaz  Published 2000

A vibrantly illustrated depiction of prevailing perseverance.






Allie's Basketball Dream by Barbara E. Barber, Illustrated by Darryl Ligasan Published 1998

"By bringing objects in and out of focus, he effectively portrays motion, adding bounce to a story of perseverance." Publishers Weekly 1996 








A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David Adler, Illustrated by John and Alexandra Wallner Published 1990

Introduce Helen Keller to a younger audience and explore the hardships and accomplishments she overcame as a child with deafness and blindness.