Perseverance in Action Across Lower School
Perseverance is what carries us through the moments when something feels harder than expected, when progress is slow, or when we’re not sure we’ll get it right. At Tahoe Expedition Academy, students don’t just talk about perseverance. They practice it every day through academic work, fieldwork, and community. From the earliest grades through upper elementary, students are given opportunities to take risks, learn from mistakes, and continue forward with the support of those around them.
Foundations of Perseverance: 1st Grade
In 1st grade, perseverance is grounded in building the foundational skills. Reading, writing, and math are not practiced in isolation; They are applied through projects, collaboration, and real moments where students must keep trying, supporting one another, and following through.
The first graders’ hard work comes to life during the Celebration of Learning event, where students present their learning through performances, science projects, and collaborative work.
“They never gave up on all those skills that they needed for the presentation, said 1st Grade Crew Leader Veronica Laudenschlager.
Alongside academics, students are also developing the social-emotional skills that make perseverance possible. At this stage, perseverance is not about pushing through alone. It is built through community.
“Collaboration and perseverance go hand in hand because the peers say, ‘You can do this!’”
By the end of the year, students are not only stronger readers, writers, and mathematicians. They are beginning to understand that learning takes time, effort, and support, laying the foundation for the increasing independence they will take on in the years ahead.
Perseverance in Practice: Building Independence in 2nd and 3rd Grade
In TEA’s 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms, perseverance is built through a combination of daily academic practice, intentional fieldwork, and a culture that normalizes challenge and growth. Rather than avoiding difficulty, students are taught to see it as a signal that growth is happening.
“We high five mistakes during math work. It is scientifically proven that when you make a mistake or struggle with a task, that’s when the most growth is happening in your brain,” said Colleen Carr, 2nd and 3rd Grade Crew Leader.
This mindset carries into fieldwork, where students begin applying perseverance in real-world contexts. In the winter, 3rd graders travel to Angel Island for an introductory backpacking experience that combines physical challenge with academic learning. Students carry their own packs, hike demanding terrain, and study the island’s history, including its connection to the Chinese Exclusion Act and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in Truckee.
The experience is further deepened through collaboration with 9th graders, who joined the trip for the first time this school year. They worked collaboratively with the younger students through activities like poetry, skits, and historical exploration.
“The collaboration with the 9th graders made it one of the best trips I’ve ever taken at TEA. They were incredible with the younger students, and it created a really meaningful experience for everyone involved.”
The 3rd grade crew trip is intentionally designed to prepare students for 4th grade, when they will complete a multi-day backpacking trip independently. To support that transition, students work from a checklist of skills they are expected to manage on their own, including setting up tents, packing their gear, and practicing Leave No Trace principles.
Through fieldwork, collaboration, and daily academic practice, students are learning that perseverance is not about getting it right the first time. It is about continuing to show up, try again, and support one another along the way.
Stepping Into Independence: Perseverance in 4th Grade
What begins in earlier grades as practicing through mistakes becomes the ability to engage with more complex academic work and take on greater independence in both the classroom and on fieldwork.
“There definitely is a leap between 3rd and 4th,” said Maude Meeker, 4th Grade Crew Leader. “You’re no longer learning to read, you read to learn.”
This shift requires students to process information more independently, analyze texts, and sit with challenges longer than they may have in previous grades.
Supporting that transition means helping students develop both skills and a growth mindset. For Maude, perseverance is closely tied to a student’s willingness to try, even when the outcome is uncertain.
“A key indicator of success that I look for is, can they try something even when it’s unknown, and are they willing to bravely put a foot forward even though they know they might fail?”
Fourth grade marks the first time students participate in trips without their parents, a significant step in both independence and responsibility. Across academics and fieldwork, perseverance in 4th grade is supported by a strong sense of community.
“If someone is struggling, there’s typically another kiddo right next to them being like, ‘Are you OK? Do you need help?’ When we’re asking kids to do things that feel outside of their comfort zone, we do need to make sure that they feel that structure behind them… ready for them if they’re going to fall.”