KICKSTARTING Our Hearts ~ Thought #33 on Ending Terrorism ~ Reach Them Deep and Move Their Souls

KICKSTARTING Our Hearts ~ Thought #33 on Ending Terrorism ~ Reach Them Deep and Move Their Souls

With all of the limitations and requirements placed on teachers it’s nearly impossible to reach our students in a way that will have a long-lasting powerful impact. That’s why we hope to reach that “one student” who will let us know what we’re doing with our lives is worth it. 

But that’s not the job. The job is to reach ALL our students in AT LEAST one way that WILL have a long-lasting powerful impact. 

And although I recognize it’s NEARLY impossible, I say that it’s NOT COMPLETELY impossible , if we become SMART ENOUGH to find ways to do this within the limitations we’re given. 

Make the time to celebrate success. It reaches them which allows you to teach them. The deeper you reach the deeper you can teach. This version takes @ 3 1/2 minutes. Plenty of time to line up for lunch or dismissal and quickly arrange the students by growth that morning or afternoon.

Or call up the last student who is the lowest in the class but working the hardest and having him or her walk proudly to the front of the line. 

If there’s not time to collect, analyze, and sort the data in real time then do it from the day or week before say, “You’re all winners. Get up here!”

And if you really want to have fun while developing  steel-hard unbreakable self-esteem in your students say, “Well, you’re all winners except one, which I’m not going to name.” Then look at the most confident kid in the room and playfully mouth the words, “It’s you”.

Not only are they likely to leave school humming the tune on their heads, they’re very likely to do their homework knowing they CAN do it and are more likely to DO MORE on their own because they want to BECOME more. 

They know it because their teacher and all their classmates know it. They FEEL it which turns their knowledge of it into a belief, and belief in yourself allows you to take action, and it is this action that causes someone to become the hero of their own life. 

All in 3 1/2 simple minutes; one day at a time, one student at a time. Make the time.