We talk a lot about effort in classrooms. Try harder. Don’t give up. Keep going.

But new research suggests effort might not be the thing that matters most.

This week’s study looks at what actually predicts student success. And this week’s Tech Tool gives students a new way to connect with ideas that once felt out of reach.

You’re about to become an even better teacher in the next 7 minutes.

🔉But first, a word from today’s sponsor for teachers doing 47% teaching, 53% people management:

The free newsletter making HR less lonely

The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.

Sign Up Free

And now, back to making you an even better teacher.

TECH TOOL

Let Students Talk to History

History (and any past, important person or event) can feel distant. Names, dates, and events that students are expected to care about - but often don’t.

The Solution: Chumi

Chumi lets students interact with historically grounded figures through AI-powered chat. Open the map, pick a figure, and start asking questions. The responses are designed to reflect the person’s context, ideas, and perspective.

What we like is that it’s not just limited to what’s already built. Teachers can create their own characters, filling gaps or tailoring content to their curriculum. Beyond chat, each figure also acts as a mini knowledge hub, giving students another way to explore ideas.

While it looks like a history tool, it stretches further. Students can talk to scientists about discoveries, explore geography through explorers, or connect past perspectives to modern issues.

Is This For YOUR Classroom?

Chumi is still growing, so not every figure or era is fully built out yet. And at first glance, it can feel like a high school history tool - but with a bit of creativity, it works across grades and subjects.

Strategies That Work:

1. Historical Interview Assignment: Students interview a figure and present their insights as a report or presentation.

2. Past Meets Present Debate: Ask historical figures how they would respond to modern-day issues.

3. Scientist Thinking Deep Dive: Students explore how discoveries were made by questioning the thinker behind them.

Teachers and schools can explore a three month trial, with premium plans costing less than $4 USD/month for up to 500 seats.

This is the kind of AI that adds something new as opposed to rehashing an existing classroom technology. History stops being something we study - and starts being something we talk to.

🚀 Noteworthy News

👉️ Addictive: Your phone isn’t “bad”—it’s designed like a slot machine to keep you hooked.

👉️ Humbling: ChatGPT just failed a college science exam—and not by a little.

👉️ Heavy: Self-harm is rising among students—and experts say we’re still missing the real cause.

BRAINY BIT

Effort matters… but mindset matters more.

We’ve heard it before. “Students just need more grit.” Push through. Try harder. Don’t quit. Turns out… that might not be the full story.

TLDR: In a study of 249 teens, researchers looked at four types of motivation: growth mindset, grit, passion, and self-efficacy. The result? Growth mindset was the strongest and most consistent predictor of grades, while grit and passion had much smaller effects.

The Study: Does motivation = better grades?

Students completed a 46-question survey measuring their levels of growth mindset, grit, passion, and self-efficacy. Researchers then compared these results to grades, confidence, and enjoyment in subjects like grammar and physical education. 

They used statistical models (correlations and regressions) to figure out which type of motivation actually predicts student success—not just which ones sound good in a staff meeting.

The Results:

Growth mindset stood out. It predicted grades in all tested subjects and explained about 10–11% of the difference in student performance.

Self-efficacy also mattered, especially for confidence and wellbeing, explaining up to 23% of differences in perceived competence.

Meanwhile, grit showed limited impact, only predicting one outcome (wellbeing), and passion didn’t uniquely predict anything once other factors were included.

In YOUR Classroom:

Not all motivation is equal; what students believe about their ability matters more than how hard they grind.

Here’s how these results can impact your classroom approach this week:

Strategies That Work:

1. Teach growth explicitly: Make it clear that ability improves through learning, not just effort alone.

2. Design quick wins: Give students chances to succeed early so confidence builds momentum.

3. Focus on strategy, not struggle: Shift language from “keep trying” to “try a different way.”

Grit and hard determination still matter.

But fostering a belief in growth first might be what makes effort actually work.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

We would LOVE to hear from you!

Reply to this email, or send us a message on Instagram! We’re here to walk with you in these crazy times!

Part of what makes The PEN Weekly community so special is the fact that our readers are teachers from around the world! We’re not going to lie, we think that’s pretty darn cool!

We’ll see you again on Monday 🍎

Share this newsletter!

Do you know someone who would appreciate reading the PEN? Share this newsletter with them! Our goal is to reach as many teachers as possible, and to build a community of teachers supporting teachers.