🌟 What an ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL time at UCTM presenting on grit games! 🎉 The educators in Utah are truly AMAZING! I feel so blessed to share insights on grit and connect with new friends—cheering each other on to get pumped up again! 💪✨ Had a hilarious time trying to throw hoops with Dan (I only made ONE shot—let’s just say my accuracy needs some work! 😂🏀). It was fantastic to connect with such inspiring friends and leaders in the math community, sharing exciting updates that Savvas has for all the math teachers out there! 📚🔍 BIG shoutout to the UCTM board, Jackie, the Savvas team, and all the incredible Utah educators! Thanks for a blast of a time! 🚀🙌 #GritAndGames #UpliftEducators #MathMagic #ConnectAndInspire #SavvasUpdates #FunInEducation ✨❤️ (I don’t own music copyright)

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak at UCTM 2026. The energy in the rooms was powerful, and several sessions were filled with educators eager to grow, reflect, and strengthen their practice—especially during my session on building gritty thinking in the classroom. Experiences like this remind me why this work matters so deeply. Teachers came ready to engage in meaningful conversations about productive struggle, perseverance, and how to move beyond surface-level engagement into true student thinking. One of the highlights was hearing how excited educators were about the new Savvas math books and the way these resources support conceptual understanding, collaboration, and confidence for learners at all levels. When curriculum, instruction, and mindset align, we truly begin to bridge the gap for students. At the heart of these conversations was the powerful connection between Thinking Classrooms and my G.R.I.T. Framework—Growth Mindset, Resilience, Self-Efficacy, and Time Management. Together, they create learning environments where students don’t just solve problems, they learn how to persist, reflect, and believe in themselves. Building grit starts with a growth mindset. In a thinking classroom, struggle is not a setback—it’s evidence of learning. Teachers can normalize this by celebrating multiple strategies, modeling mistakes, and using language that reframes being “stuck” as part of the thinking process. When students understand that effort and revision are expected, they engage more deeply and take greater ownership of their learning. Resilience grows through collaboration. Thinking classrooms thrive when students work together, share ideas, and wrestle with concepts as a team. Random grouping, structured roles, and intentional math discourse help students learn that perseverance is strengthened in community. When learners support one another, they build confidence and stamina to tackle challenging tasks. Self-efficacy develops when student thinking is valued. Using vertical non-permanent surfaces like whiteboards lowers the fear of making mistakes and encourages risk-taking. Asking students to explain their reasoning and highlighting their ideas—whether complete or still developing—signals that their thinking matters. Over time, students begin to see themselves as capable mathematicians. Time management is another critical component of grit. Teachers can support this by breaking tasks into phases, using visual timers, and guiding students to reflect on how they used their time. These habits help students learn to pace themselves, stay focused, and persist through complex problems—skills that extend far beyond the math classroom. The questions we ask also shape gritty thinking. Instead of rescuing students, we can ask questions that prompt reflection and strategy: What do you already know? What have you tried so far? What could you try next? These questions keep students engaged in the process and strengthen their independence as thinkers. Finally, reflection brings it all together. Ending lessons with opportunities for students to reflect on effort, strategies, and moments of perseverance reinforces that grit is just as important as correctness. When we celebrate persistence as much as achievement, students learn that growth happens over time. UCTM 2026 was a powerful reminder that educators everywhere are committed to creating classrooms where students feel supported, challenged, and empowered. I am grateful for every teacher who showed up ready to learn, collaborate, and push their thinking. Let’s stay gritty, keep learning together, and continue bridging the gap so every learner has the opportunity to thrive.