I believe in the power of setting intentions prior to the start of the day and/or class. When we set intentions, we are more likely to make choices that support them. Therefore, students are asked to set their intention for their effort before entering the gym. This simple act reminds them that they hold the power and responsibility for learning and becoming "stronger" in every way. Unfortunately, we all know that sometimes our choices and behaviors may go astray as we approach a challenge or peer pressure. By setting our intention, sometimes a simple reminder of it is all that is necessary to get us back on track. Just like setting our intention before we enter the gym, we must reflect as we exit. Students often hear may say- "Honest reflections are the only way we get stronger." As we know honesty with others is important but we often forget about the importance being honest with ourselves. If we know we can give more but tell ourselves we gave "High 5-Excellent" effort, we are limiting what we truly can do and become.
Giving students the opportunity and encouragement to self-reflect is another way of empowering them to take charge of their learning and well-being.
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We often want tasks to be easy and look to find immediate success. But, as neuroscientists are learning, it's actually the challenges we face and the mistakes we make that grow our brain. Our brains are like muscles and it is through challenges and mistakes that we get stronger. So, instead of keeping tasks easy, setting goals that we know we can achieve, and staying in our "comfort zone", we try hard tasks, understand that when at first we don't succeed we continue to TRY and we will become STRONGER for doing so and achieve SUCCESS. Students were reminded that many famous people experienced FAILURE multiple times before they found SUCCESS. And even then, they continued to do more and be more! We kicked off the month of September with setting our goals for Jog-a-Thon. As with any goal, it was important to identify and reflect on PURPOSE. Purpose is what drives determination and will to achieve. I introduced goal setting to the students by sharing my personal goal for September and the plan I had set out to follow. I shared my PURPOSE for running and how my bracelets are my SIMPLE reminder. Students had inquired how they could get one and it was an "ah ha" moment! SET YOUR GOAL with PURPOSE, MAKE A PLAN, DO YOUR VERY BEST, and NEVER GIVE UP! Why not provide that SIMPLE reminder to them just as I use?! We began by discussing the purpose for Jog-a-Thon and understanding that the more we worked to reach our individual lap goals, the more our school would benefit. We also learned a lot about what it takes to build up our "ENDURANCE" and "CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS" to reach such a goal. Throughout the process, students learned what it takes to set a goal, make a plan, work hard to follow the plan, and reflect on the final outcome. Unfortunately our Jog-a-Thon day did not go off without any hitches, but they all took it in 'stride' and stayed true to their goal with the understanding of its PURPOSE! Another SUCCESSFUL Jog-a-Thon in the books and students were awarded a GREEN BRACELET as their reminder to SET GOALS with PURPOSE, MAKE A PLAN, ALWAYS DO YOUR VERY BEST, and NEVER, EVER, GIVE UP! Wellness is the FOUNDATION that supports student growth. Recently, I asked my 3rd and 4th grade students what they believed WELLNESS meant. What did they think of when they heard I was their "WELLNESS" teacher? Not surprisingly, they answered "physical education", "gym", "p.e.", "healthy", "feeling well"...Next, I showed them similar slides to the pictures above with the headings: SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL, NUTRITIONAL, and EMOTIONAL. I then asked them what they believed each slide meant and how it related to wellness. The responses were insightful. Kids get it! "We need to be social with friends and be happy", "Social is being with others", "Physical is exercise", "Physical is in the gym and playground", "Intellectual sounds like intelligence", "The lightbulb is our thoughts", "Nutrition is what we eat", "I think of plants", "Emotional is how we feel", "If we are grumpy we don't want to do anything", "We can accomplish more when we have a positive mindset"... I don't think they had made the connections prior to our discussion, but I do believe bringing it to the forefront and engaging in the conversation, was a "lightbulb" moment that brightened their understanding of why we are discussing such topics as "being self-aware, demonstrating teamwork/sportsmanship, taking responsibility, possessing an optimistic attitude, making nutritious choices, and setting goals..." We are on a mission to be STRONG and through Wellness, we have a SPINE that binds us all together for the strength we need to live physically active, healthy lifestyles !
When students were asked what came to their mind when they heard the word 'GOAL', a common theme emerged- a DREAM. While delving deeper, students often responded with "Something I WISH I could do" or "something I HOPE to achieve". As I pondered their responses, I wanted to emphasize with them that NOTHING is out of their reach if they BELIEVE and begin PLANNING how to get there. We can not simply wish and hope to achieve, but we have to take ACTION. This is where I believe DREAMS and GOALS are different, yet connected. Just like Michael Jordan in this video, he was practicing and showed determination and a will to keep trying. Students also recognized that he was young, just like them, when he shared with his dad what he wanted to do in his future. Students were reminded that they are never too young to dream about what they one day may become as long as they BELIEVE they can and SET GOALS to get there. Goals are like stepping stones to our dreams. We take them one at a time. As I share with students, every goal, no matter how small is an important step on our journey to reaching our dream. |
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