Some students may have lost their ‘grit.’ Here’s how teachers and parents can help them get it back episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 11, 2025 · 8 MIN

Some students may have lost their ‘grit.’ Here’s how teachers and parents can help them get it back

from In The NOCO · host KUNC

Colorado teachers say their students are missing something that helps determine their academic success. They call it grit.  If a student who struggles with math studies hard and performs well on their math test, that’s grit. If they complete a homework assignment that was tough to finish, that's also grit.   Erica Breunlin covers education for The Colorado Sun. Since the pandemic, she says teachers have told her they’re seeing less of this core life skill in the classroom – and that’s leading to lower test scores for K-12 students.  Erica recently wrote about grit, and the strategies some educators and parents have developed to build more of it in their kids. She spoke about it with Erin O’Toole in January. With the new school year starting for many Colorado students this month, we’re listening back to that conversation today. * * * * *Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: [email protected] Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Producer: Ariel Lavery Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

Colorado teachers say their students are missing something that helps determine their academic success. They call it grit.  If a student who struggles with math studies hard and performs well on their math test, that’s grit. If they complete a homework assignment that was tough to finish, that's also grit.   Erica Breunlin covers education for The Colorado Sun. Since the pandemic, she says teachers have told her they’re seeing less of this core life skill in the classroom – and that’s leading to lower test scores for K-12 students.  Erica recently wrote about grit, and the strategies some educators and parents have developed to build more of it in their kids. She spoke about it with Erin O’Toole in January. With the new school year starting for many Colorado students this month, we’re listening back to that conversation today. * * * * *Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: [email protected] Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Producer: Ariel Lavery Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

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Some students may have lost their ‘grit.’ Here’s how teachers and parents can help them get it back

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This episode was published on August 11, 2025.

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Colorado teachers say their students are missing something that helps determine their academic success. They call it grit.  If a student who struggles with math studies hard and performs well on their math test, that’s grit. If they complete a...

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