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Why perseverance and curiosity are just as important as ‘academic’ skills

Amy Scott May 24, 2016
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Skills instilled during early childhood are crucial for long-term success, writer Paul Tough says. Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Why perseverance and curiosity are just as important as ‘academic’ skills

Amy Scott May 24, 2016
Skills instilled during early childhood are crucial for long-term success, writer Paul Tough says. Chris Hondros/Getty Images
HTML EMBED:
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One of the buzzwords in education these days is “grit.”

Research suggests that qualities like perseverance, conscientiousness and self-control are as crucial as “academic” skills for excelling in the classroom.

Writer Paul Tough has been looking at the latest research on how those so-called noncognitive skills are developed in young children — starting in infancy — and why kids growing up in poverty or in stressful environments are often at a disadvantage.

He joined our Morning Report show to talk about his new book, “Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why.”

Click the above audio player to hear the full interview. 

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