This research examines 480 current event-explanation units using the CAVE technique (Schulman, Castellon, & Seligman, 1989) to note the relationship between positive and negative explanatory style and achievement of prospective early childhood and upper elementary female teachers. This study found a significant positive relationship between explanatory style for positive events and academic performance in stressful scenarios. Surprisingly, optimism and pessimism in one's explanatory style for negative events was found to have no significant relationship to academic performance. An important implication of these findings is that the quality of our attributions for positive events, not negative events, helps to sustain performance levels in demanding situations. Interventions for enhancing explanatory style therefore should focus on the positive. (Contains 2 tables.)