NeuroGRIT NEWS
Simple “I CAN” sessions help teens build grit and a growth mindset
A recent study from Norway found that a brief two-session classroom program called “I CAN” helped 15-year-old students develop more grit, motivation, and confidence in their ability to grow. The study included 421 students across 38 schools and was designed to test whether teaching young people about effort and brain development could lead to lasting changes in attitude and behavior.
The program focused on the science of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change and grow through effort. Students learned that intelligence and skills aren’t fixed traits, but can improve with practice. The sessions encouraged students to reflect, set personal goals, and repeat simple affirmations like “I can improve” and “I can overcome challenges.”
Each session lasted just 45 minutes. Despite the short format, the results were meaningful. Eight weeks after completing the program, students—especially boys—showed stronger levels of grit and consistency in their interests compared to those who didn’t take part. The researchers found that 10 out of 12 motivational factors improved in the “I CAN” group, showing that even a brief intervention can help young people adopt a growth mindset.
The study also emphasized the importance of practical examples and emotionally engaging content. Students weren’t just told to try harder—they were shown how effort rewires the brain and helps them grow stronger over time. This hands-on, brain-based approach seems to have flipped a motivational switch in many of the participants.
The program’s creators now hope to expand it across Norway, with early plans to offer it to over 16,000 students annually. The takeaway is clear: helping students understand how their brains work—and giving them tools to act on that knowledge—can build the foundation for stronger willpower, discipline, and resilience.
🧠 NeuroGRIT Explains — What This Means for You
Small change, big impact: You don’t need months of training. Just two focused sessions can lead to lasting mindset shifts—if they’re built on real neuroscience.
Belief drives effort: When people learn their brain can change, they stop seeing struggle as failure. They start seeing it as growth.
Structure matters: Affirmations like “I CAN” are most powerful when paired with reflection, goal-setting, and real action. That’s how willpower becomes a habit.
📝 Citations
Sigmundsson, H., Hauge, H., Leversen, J. S. R., & Haga, M. (2024, Nov 22). I CAN intervention to increase grit and growth mindset: exploring the intervention for 15-year-olds Norwegian adolescents. Frontiers in Education, 9:1438280.
https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1438280
Brandslet, S. (2025, Feb 18). Young people can be helped to develop more grit. ScienceNorway.no.
https://www.sciencenorway.no/education-gender-norway/young-people-can-be-helped-to-develop-more-grit/2338450