Rocky Run

It is hard to believe that it is already the middle of January! Like most of you, when we returned from Holiday Vacation, I had my students color in a cute foldable with the numbers 2 0 1 7 on the outside flaps. They were supposed to write 2 things they were most looking forward to this year, 0 - something they wanted to stop or do 0 times this year, 1 person they would like to become friends with this year and 7 books they wanted to read. It was a cute assignment and time filler when we first got back. However, that is exactly how my students looked at it; a cute fluff assignment, not really something to put much thought into. I was frustrated with them for not taking it serious and with myself for even giving them the assignment. I wanted to incorporate goal planning into our daily schedule. So I came up with The Rocky Run! 

Rocky Run?? What is that? Well I am sure you have all seen at least once in your life Rocky Balboa run up the stairs in Philadelphia... It is on that same idea... The students chose an academic goal and we created goal sheets. If they complete their goal by the end of January, they will be able to do our version of the Rocky Run and run a lap around the school and up the stairs while the Rocky theme is playing to thunderous applause! 

I first showed the students his early attempts at training and getting up the stairs with much difficulty. They did not like the raw egg scene, and I would have to agree with them. 

Then I showed them after hard work and dedication he was able to make it up the stairs! They were hooked and all in! 

Let the training begin! 

#rockyrun2017

Bridget

Got Grit??

I was lucky enough recently to participate in a book study at my school. We met every Wednesday morning before school and discussed How Children Succeed by Paul Tough . Some of our discussion were quite lively and passionate, but my favorite chapter and discussion was on GRIT!

What is grit? Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth gave a recent TED Talk on the subject:

I have begun to introduce this subject of Grit to my students and their families. We have been watching some of the Olympic footage and looking for examples of grit. The best example so far is US Men's Figure Skater, Jeremy Abbott! Before watching the video we talked about how hard it is to get to the Olympics, the sacrifices the athletes and their families make, and the amount of daily practice they put in to be the best. Then we watched Jeremy skate his short program....

Then we talked about how he finished the program.... No it wasn't the skate he was looking for and some people may even say he failed but if you ask my class he won that night. I asked the question to them... Was he successful? Why or why not?   Here were some of their responses...
     *He didn't give up               *He finished what he started       *This was his dream
     *He overcame the fall and didn't fall again  
     *That must have been so hard for him to keep focused but he did

We then used The Grit Scale from Dr. Duckworth as our guide and continued our conversation. Sometimes it is about more than just a medal.... sometimes it is about GRIT !!

Only 1 student thought he failed..... I am working on him.. :-)

Have yourself a gritty day !!

Bridget