You Can Learn Anything: Success through Effort

Over the years, you probably had teachers who believed in you and encouraged you to do your best work.  Who knows, without their support, you may not be where you are today!  However, as you developed and became more independent, you shifted the locus of support from your teacher's opinions  to your own belief in yourself.  That shift allowed you to take control of your own growth. development, and future destiny.  At times we all waffle back and forth between faith in ourselves and an occasional need for a pat-on-the-back.

Now that you’re a teacher, you’ll be supporting your students as they grow, take risks, and ultimately to take responsibility for developing their own skills.   When students believe they are capable and can learn, they make a greater investment in themselves and in their education.  When students discover their own power,  remarkable things start to happen.  Bear Bryant, longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team, had an interesting way to expressing this growth model.  He stated,  “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards”.

The You Only Have to Know one Thing: You Can Learn Anything video will  be a valuable discussion starter for motivating student to take responsibility for their own learning.  And for older students, you'll want to also show the John Legend Success Through Effort video in which he talks about his ongoing growth over the years.  There's no better time review the importances of commitment and effort than at the beginning of the school year!

Featuring Our Own: Classroom Tours

Welcome to Sara Snider's 4th grade classroom at Copeland Manor School in District 70 in
Libertyvill, IL.  

And…
Welcome to Maggie Clerkin's classroom at Goudy School in District 299, Chicago, IL.  Maggie is teaching middle school language arts.  

Coming Attractions…

In the next edition we'll visit the classrooms of Melissa Strum and Natalie VandenBos!