Like a Sponge podcast: Humility’s bad rap

Like a Sponge podcast: Humility’s bad rap

We want our kids to be confident learners. We tell them to “speak up in class” and “fake it till you make it.” But what about that old-fashioned virtue, humility? New research suggests it may be the key to learning.

Links and resources for Humility’s bad rap

Cultivating intellectual humility may help us learn better — and have more productive ideological debates.

Here’s how to help your kids be open-minded, mindful of their strengths and weaknesses, and considerate of others.

World-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck explains the core idea behind “Mindset,” her breakthrough book on how to truly motivate kids.

Want to build a virtual community at your child’s school? Check out our series of free presentations on raising compassionate, courageous kids. Designed for anyone to deliver over Zoom or in person, they come with a presenter script, an entertaining slide deck, and audience participation prompts.

This episode of Like a Sponge was produced by Carol Lloyd and Charity Ferreira for GreatSchools, thanks to the support of U.C. Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center and the John Templeton Foundation. Sound editing and design by Christopher Ferreira. Special thanks to Tenelle Porter, scholar in residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Character Lab, and Xandra Castleton.

^{Music in this episode: “Miracle” from Matilda the Musical; “It Was Warmer Then,” by Helios; “Sound and Color,” by Alabama Sha; and “I’m So Humble,” by Adam Levine. Like a Sponge’s Season 2 theme is Blue and Green by RimskyMusic.}