Persisting Coach (Select for reflection)

Persistence is fostered when writers are encouraged to

commit to exploring, in writing, a topic, idea, or demanding task;
grapple with challenging ideas, texts, processes, or projects;
follow through, over time, to complete tasks, processes, or projects; and
consistently take advantage of in-class (peer and instructor responses) and out-of-class (writing or learning center support) opportunities to improve and refine their work.
“Habits of Mind” in Frameworks for Success in Postsecondary Writing

Persisting
Stick to it! Persevering with a task through to completion; remaining focused. Searching for ways to reach your goal when stuck. Not giving up.

Do you ever give up when the answer to a problem is not immediately found? Do you ever say to yourself, “I can’t do this,” “It’s too hard.” Do you sometimes write down any answer just to get the task over with as quickly as possible? We all have faced this from time to time.

What we often don’t realize is that we can be in control of those behaviors—if we want to! When you recognize that you are stuck, think about some possible strategies, such as:

When you are working through a problem…

Stop and analyze what the problem was asking in the first place.
Break the problem apart into steps and identify on the calendar when the task is due.
Think of another strategy and try it.
Seek help or feedback from someone.
When you need inspiration…

Celebrate progress you are making along the way and anticipate your next steps.
Imagine what it will look and feel like when you are successful. Use that for motivation to lift you up during the frustrating parts.
Find motivating quotes from your heroes who persisted. All of the greats struggled as part of their ultimate accomplishments and contributions to the world.
When you need a break…

Focus on slowing down your breathing. For example, inhale for the count of five, exhale for the count of five and repeat for a minute.
Take a break. Sometimes walking away from a problem and doing something else opens up new ideas.
You no doubt have many strategies that you’ve used when you were committed to achieving an important goal. It may be helpful to keep your own list of ideas and share with others. Keep telling yourself to hang in there and stick to it.
Habits of Mind for Students by Bena Kallick, Art Young, and Allison Zmuda

Persisting: Are you going the extra mile and working to complete your writing goal?
Example: You have forty minutes of workshop time, so you set a goal for yourself to complete a well-developed introductory paragraph. As you push yourself to finish this goal, consider the commitment you are putting forth; the idea is not to just get it done so you can be ready to leave class, but it is to complete the piece of work with excellence. Persisting through distractions is key here. You have a computer in front of you, and YouTube is a click away—it’s tempting. This is where you remind yourself that not only did you commit to completing the paragraph, but that you are also practicing Persisting​. This is being mindful of the habit.

An Inclusive Approach to a Reading and Writing Workshop with the Habits of Mind By Daniel Vollrath and Scott Einhorn

Managing Impulsivity
Take your time! Thinking before acting; remaining calm, thoughtful and deliberative.

Have you ever jumped right into working on a problem without reading all of the directions? Did you find that you missed something important and you have to start all over again? Do you ever blurt out ideas without thinking about how what you say might impact people you are interacting with? Have you ever found yourself interrupting someone else’s thinking without considering what the other person meant?

These behaviors all point to the need to manage your impulsivity – slowing yourself down to think more about what you are about to do before you do it. Managing impulsivity means thinking before acting. You work to remain calm, thoughtful, and deliberate when working through a problem or developing an idea.

So what does it look like when you are managing impulsivity? Here are some tips:

Consider the situation you are in. How does it make you feel? How might you manage those feelings so that you can take appropriate action?
When you are working in a group, establish group rules to make certain that everyone has a voice in the discussion.
Count to 3 (1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi) before adding your ideas to the conversation. That way if the person wants to finish a thought they have space to do so.
Remind yourself that how you are feeling does not need to be acted on. Name the emotion. For example: “I’m angry.” “I’m upset.” or “I’m tired. Then wait instead of getting carried away into a response or a reaction.
Be aware of the impact of your impulse to act and yourself slow down before responding. Stop and think before you act.
Habits of Mind for Students by Bena Kallick, Art Young, and Allison Zmuda

Managing Impulsivity: How did I manage my pacing of work?
Example: We all have been there . . . it’s Wednesday night and your analytical essay is due first block tomorrow morning. You hate this feeling of stress, anxiety, procrastination, and regret. You hate knowing that you need to pull an “all-nighter” to get it done. So how can you prevent this from happening over and over?

Well, when you receive a writing assignment, make sure you put the final due date on your calendar, and then plan the project out: consider a timeline of personal due dates for different sections along the way. This kind of tracking will alleviate stress and anxiety, which in the end will eliminate your impulsivity. Ultimately, this habit with positively impact all aspects of your life, whether it’s getting to the airport on time or wrapping up your boss’s project ahead of schedule.

An Inclusive Approach to a Reading and Writing Workshop with the Habits of Mind By Daniel Vollrath and Scott Einhorn