Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: Nothing is more common than unrewarded talent. Education alone will not: The world is full of educated failures. Persistence alone is omnipotent.

—Calvin Coolidge

As you have read through the stories in this book, you have already discovered the power of staying the course, as described by each teacher. Getting started is often easy. It does not take too much time to introduce the Habits of Mind. And envisioning the end is also easy. You would probably agree that if students graduate after having developed the Habits of Mind, they are likely to be successful citizens and workers. It is going through the middle that is difficult—remembering how important the habits are as students engage with curriculum, instruction, and assessments. This chapter describes how you can sustain your focus on the Habits of Mind to achieve lasting change.

Giving It Time