The Yellow Board

The Yellow Board
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"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Posted by Anon on 4/1/2025, 2:00 pm

How do you teach grit to your students?

Re: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Posted by Me on 4/2/2025, 9:36 am, in reply to ""When the going gets tough, the tough get going.""

I think the only way we teach our students is by being a great example of the things we want them to be. If we go 115% they’ll go 80 (on average). If we go 150% they might get to 95. The most successful directors are crazy organized and dedicate their lives to being way more than what is expected because then their students feed off of that and get more grit, confidence, initiative. They learn by doing. If you expect them to do things and exude the confidence in them and positively encourage them they will improve. Find stuff that they can’t do and start showing and teaching the skills necessary to do that. But, also have music in their hands that shows off the things they do perfectly. Perform the gritty stuff on the spring concert and maybe in the stands. Good luck to you!

Re: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Posted by SouthEast Central on 4/1/2025, 7:50 pm, in reply to ""When the going gets tough, the tough get going.""

Many kids today simply don't know how to fail. They're always successful somehow - or they get to "win" anyway. Failure is not an option - and not in a good way.

Fail your STAAR? You still move up a grade.

Fail a class? It's the teacher's fault. You still get to move on.

Don't score a goal? The team goes out for pizza/ice cream/etc afterwards anyway.

Honestly, you beat this by introducing as much healthy competition as you can. Start having weekly chair tests even as far down as beginner band. You have to teach them the value of work, not just work. You'll lose a few - but that's why band is such a cult of personality for the director. You'll gain as many back if you make kids want to be in your class.

Re: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

Posted by Well on 4/1/2025, 3:57 pm, in reply to ""When the going gets tough, the tough get going.""

The biggest thing by far is displaying it yourself. S*** happens sometimes. Does the person in front of them panic and throw a fit? Or do they problem solve and persist?
In addition, I genuinely try to go by the idea that whatever you choose to do...be the best at it for that moment in time that you are doing it.
Show pigs? Raise the biggest, fattest pig you can (I guess?) Swim team? Be a darn fish when you're in the pool. Play tuba? Then play that whole note with the best sound you possibly can. Strive to be better. Not because I tell you to, but because you are capable of it.
It may sound sappy, but a lot of my kids really buy into that concept. I don't ask for endless hours of practice, just that when you are sitting in front of me, give me everything you got.
Of course, YOU can only do so much.

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