Course Description

Through learning and teaching grit and resilience, teachers will cultivate a classroom where students learn to persevere through difficulties and challenges. So even as life's up and downs occur, students will continue to flourish and grow from each experience.

Essential Question:

What is Resilience? What is Grit? Can they be cultivated and taught?

Senior Instructors

Dr. Mary E. Sanders & Eric B. Hamilton

Dr. Mary E. Sanders and Eric B. Hamilton have combined their strengths to develop a unique, research-based program for schools, teachers, and students to increase wellbeing and happiness. To create our curriculum, we have curated the findings of Dr. Martin Seligman, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Dr. Angela Duckworth, Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD., among other leading positive psychology experts, into practical strategies that can be integrated into teachers’ personal lives, as well as their classrooms, enabling teachers and students to thrive.ERIC B. HAMILTONEric B. Hamilton is a veteran director for international schools around the world. Eric has spent his entire career enabling schools to be happier, more compassionate environments where both students and teachers thrive. His extensive experience in curriculum development and school leadership have enabled him and Mary to develop their courses using the most contemporary and research-based pedagogical methods.Eric has over 25 years experience in education as a teacher and leader. He attended the University of Delaware where he earned his B.S. in elementary education and middle school math. Later, he completed the master’s program at the University of Colorado in curriculum and instruction. He has been a dedicated practitioner of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga for the past 10 years.MARY E. SANDERSDr. Mary E. Sanders has been involved in the world of positive psychology, health, and wellness for more than 20 years. With certifications from the Wholebeing Institute in Positive Psychology and as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) practitioner, she is highly qualified to lead teachers towards happier, more holistic classrooms.Dr. Sanders attended Eastern Illinois University and earned her B.S. in zoology and chemistry. She then attended Logan College of Chiropractic to earn her doctorate in chiropractic. Dr. Sanders is a certified yoga Instructor and has been a mindfulness, meditation, and yoga practitioner of over 25 years.

Course curriculum

  • 2

    Week 1: Science and Benefits of Resilience and Grit

    • Introduction to the Science and Benefits of Resilience & Grit

    • Defining Resilience

    • The Neurobiology and Physiology of Resilience

    • InBrief: The Science of Resilience

    • Discussion

    • Grit and Perseverance in Developmental Psychology - Interview With Angela Duckworth

    • Grit with Dr. Angela Duckworth

    • Quiz Week 1

  • 3

    Week 2: Personal Transformation

    • Introduction to Resilience & Grit Personal Transformation

    • Can Mindfulness Increase Our Resilience to Stress?

    • Introduction on How to be 'Gritty' in the Workplace

    • Resilience in Positive Psychology: Bouncing Back & Going Strong

    • Quiz Week 2

  • 4

    Week 3: Resilience and Grit in Education

    • Introduction to Resilience and Grit in Education

    • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth

    • Can Grit be Taught in the Classroom? - Interview with Angela Duckworth

    • Article: Don’t Believe the Hype About Grit, Pleads the Scientist Behind the Concept

    • Discussion: What other strategies have you used to make your students grittier?

    • Quiz Week 3

  • 5

    Submit your final project - Lesson Plan and Evidences (due week 4)

    • Aviva Lesson Plan Description

    • Download the Aviva Lessons Template here!

    • Upload your projects here!

  • 6

    Week 4: Resilience and Grit in the Classroom

    • Introduction to Resilience and Grit in the Classroom

    • Grit Curriculum Lesson: The Perseverance Walk

    • Grit Curriculum Lesson: Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

    • Introduction Learning from Mistakes

    • Video: Learning from Mistakes

    • Article: Three Pillars for Supporting Resilience

    • Closing Remarks

    • Quiz Week 4

  • 7

    Rate and Review the Course

    • Rate and Review M06

  • 8

    References and Research Articles

    • References and Research Articles used in M06