The focus for August and September lessons has been on achieving academic success. These lessons covered Standard A: Effective Learning - The learner will be able to acquire attitudes, knowledge and skills that contribute to effective learning in school and across the life span.
Our third grade students learned about being "School Cool." In this lesson, the students learned about responsibility and how learning to become responsible helps them become successful students. After a discussion on responsible school behaviors and attitudes, the students played a game in which they had to decide whether a behavior or attitude should be "trashed" or saved in the "piggy bank".
Some of the saved behaviors included doing my homework when I get home, trying my hardest and keeping a positive attitude, raising my hand to ask a question in class, asking for help when I need it and treating others with respect. Some of the behaviors that went in the trash can were waiting to the last minute to do my work, doing sloppy work, giving up and not trying, talking when the teacher is talking and blurting out answers instead of raising my hand.
Our Seven Habits worked really well with this part of the lesson and the children were able to tell me that Habit 1, Be Proactive was all about taking responsibility for our lives in how we act and react. We discussed how Habit 3, Put First Things First, could help with doing chores and homework and how Habits 4, Think Win-Win, 5, Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood and 6, Synergize, can help them become more responsible when it comes to getting along better with friends and family members. Habit 7, Sharpen the Saw, can help encourage them to go to bed on time and get that much needed sleep to renew themselves.
The students then rated themselves on how responsible they are to determine if they're "School Cool." They were asked to circle their lowest ratings and use those to establish some goals to improve their responsibility for their work and behavior.
This lesson covers GC:AD-A3.1 - Take resposibility for their actions and GC:AD-A1.5 - Identify attitudes and behaviors which lead to successful learning
The fourth grade students viewed and discussed a power point presentation, “Can You Spell Winner?” In this presentation, the students learned six strategies for school success as well as traits and habits of successful students:
Works carefully and uses time wisely.
Is interested and shows it by listening, asking questions and taking notes.
Needs help sometimes and knows when and how to ask for it.
Notices there are different ways of being smart and discovers his or her own strengths.
Expects to do well and keeps a positive attitude.
Realizes the importance of being prepared and organized.
The students then worked to come up with their own strategies and recorded them on blue ribbons to display around the room. Some of their ideas included turning off the TV or stereo when doing homework, reading an extra 30 minutes each day, asking parents to check over homework, cleaning out your desk and book bag often, playing computer math games, and practicing the seven habits. The students were able to make the connection between school success and Habit 1 - Be proactive; Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind; and Habit 3 - Put first things first.
The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to establish good work habits and attitudes about school. Children often take their cues about the importance of education from their parents’attitudes and expectations. Parents have the power to reinforce good homework habits and study skills by clearly communicating their expectations to their children and the resulting consequences if expectations are not met. Talk to your children often about what you expect from them as far as their level of effort is concerned. Your interest and guidance will help them become winners in the classroom.
This lesson covered the following competencies:
GC:AD-A1.5- Identify attitudes, and behaviors which lead to successful learning
GC:AD-A2.3 Use communication skills to know when and how to ask for help when needed
Fifth grade students discussed successful learning and explored how attitudes, behaviors and skills affect learning. We began by watching a brief clip from "School of Rock" and the students were asked to make observations about the students in the clip as they were learning to form a band. Our students observed that they had positive attitudes and were willing to try new things. They also listened to their teacher and "synergized" as they were forming the band. Our fifth grade students easily made connections between what they observed in the video and the attitudes and skills that will be necessary to further cultivate success in the 5th grade.
We then discussed learning styles, learning rates, the importance of setting goals and how the 7 Habits can help them become more successful learners. The students were able to write their plans for their journey to success and will be displaying them in the hallway. Finally, I gave the students an opportunity to annonymously write down their concerns about going to middle school. The results will be compiled and shared during the next guidance lesson. Through the guidance curriculum and the wonderful preparation by their teachers, tPickett's Mill fifth grade students will learn that they will become prepared for middle school during the course of this year.
This lesson covered the following competencies:
GC:AD-A1.5- Identify attitudes, and behaviors which lead to successful learning
GC:AD-B2.1 - Establish challenging academic goals in elementary school
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