"Do Gritty Teachers Create Grittier Students?" a question posed by Erin Hone, lecturer in Education, and two senior Elon Teaching Fellows, Paige Knapke and Micaela Malachowski, during their presentation at the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators (NCAEE) conference in Raleigh on January 18.
On Jan. 18, 2020, Erin Hone, lecturer in education and program coordinator for the elementary education program in the School of Education, presented at the North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators (NCAEE) conference in Raleigh with two senior Elon Teaching Fellows: Paige Knapke ’20, special and elementary education major, and Micaela Malachowski ’20, elementary education major.
The title of their presentation was, “Do Gritty Teachers Create Grittier Students?” Teaching for grit is more of an attitude than a strategy. In their session, participants were encouraged to explore their own mindsets and attitudes about learning. Their presentation stems from a recent research project studying the impact of teachers’ dispositions on student mindset. Participants identified dispositions they hope to foster in their own classrooms in an effort to encourage stronger mindsets about learning in their students. Discussion focused on strategies for creating a classroom community where students are encouraged to take risks and productively struggle.
Knapke and Malachowski both presented their research during the Spring Undergraduate Research Forum poster session in April.
The North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators (NCAEE), founded in fall 2005, is the only professional organization in North Carolina – and one of two in the nation – established expressly to advocate for and serve elementary educators and elementary level children.