Angela Duckworth and other behavioral-science experts offered advice to teachers based on scientific research. Angela is a co-founder of Character Lab, a nonprofit organization advancing scientific insights that help kids thrive. She is also the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. This blog is no longer being updated.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
What 9/11 Can Teach Us Today
We can only guess at what weighs on other people. Hurts and wounds are not always visible on the outside.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
How to Prioritize Student Well-Being This Year
Use the Student Thriving Index to find out where your kids stand. Because you cannot manage what you cannot measure.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
How to Bring Out Your—and Your Students’—Best Self
You are what you feed, so decide which "you" you like most and strengthen that mode.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
If You Think You Have Multiple Personalities, You’re Not Alone
Everyone can act differently depending on the situation. Here’s the science that explains why.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
How Reinterpreting Your Emotions Can Change How You Feel
Emotions come from thoughts—not your situation, but how you interpret your situation. Here’s what to ask yourself to help you decode.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
How to Help Students Take a Mental-Health Break This Summer
Less time on screens and more time in nature is a prescription for a healthier time off from school.
Teaching
Opinion
The Best Ways to Teach Students How to Think (Not What to Think)
Show, don’t tell. Here’s how to model judgment by engaging students in authentic discussions.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
A Writing Exercise That Helps Students Build Resilience
When kids write about their successes, they also think about all they had to overcome—which helps both confidence and capability.
Teaching
Opinion
Why Students Don’t Learn From Failure
When kids fail, they tune out, so they don’t learn from the experience. Here’s where to find the real teachable moments.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
How to Increase Curiosity—and Happiness to Boot
Research suggests that consistent curiosity goes hand in hand with higher ratings of life satisfaction. Here’s one way to encourage it.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
How to Help Students Stop Procrastinating
Want kids to look forward to studying? Teach them how to link something enjoyable with it.
Teaching
Opinion
The Overlooked Way to Think Creatively When Solving Problems
In our eagerness to add options and opportunities, we forget the power of subtraction. Here’s how to brainstorm more effectively.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
The One Thing Teachers Do That Hurts Student Motivation
When adults take over on a challenging task, kids are more likely to quit sooner on the next one. Here’s what to do instead.
Teaching
Opinion
The Key to Understanding What Your Students Are Thinking
To get the right perspective, you need to channel your inner detective.