Home >
Nurturing Early Learners >
Values, Social and Emotional Competencies, Learning Dispositions >
Learning Dispositions >
Perseverance
Perseverance
What is perseverance?
Perseverance is the ability to keep working at a task to complete it. Some child-friendly slogans are:
- Keep trying and don’t give up
- Encourage each other
- Celebrate every effort
Why is perseverance important?
Perseverance helps children progress in their learning as they are not easily discouraged and do not give up even though they face challenge.
How can you nurture perseverance in your children?
How might children demonstrate perseverance?
Here are some examples of how children might demonstrate perseverance through their actions, speech and behaviour:
- Keep working on an activity to complete it.
- Seek help or advice from peers or teachers in their attempts to complete a challenging activity.
- Say encouraging words about their own and others’ efforts in completing a difficult task.
- Continue to press on with their efforts and do not give up easily even when faced with challenges.
Local Story
I Can Do It! by Emily Lim (2011)
The main character in the story displays perseverance and is encouraged by his brother when he makes the effort to learn to speak well.
Use the story to guide children through the process of recognising and valuing the disposition of perseverance:
1. Introduce the story
Introduce the story of the main character who displayed perseverance and was encouraged by his brother in his efforts to learn to speak well.
2. Discuss
Engage children in a discussion about the challenges the main character faced and the efforts he made to overcome them.
3. Identify perseverance
Encourage children to identify and recognise the quality of perseverance demonstrated by the main character in the story.
4. Value perseverance
Discuss the importance of perseverance and how it can lead to success and encourage children to appreciate and value this disposition.
5. Relate to children’s personal experiences
Encourage children to share their own experiences of perseverance and how it has helped them overcome challenges.
Download the book and accompanying teacher’s guide in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.
|
 |
 |
 |
Resources
- Reflectiveness
- VSLD: How can you do it?
- Printable: PRAISE Learning Dispositions
- Educators’ Guide for Values, Social and Emotional Competencies and Learning Dispositions
- Activity ideas which showcase learning dispositions
