How do we deal with challenges and persevere when times are tough? This is a question we explored today in Language Arts. To begin, we discussed the idea that we all come to a new school year with different strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. Some of us will be strong readers and writers, and some of us will struggle. Some of us will have a tough time getting along with others, and for others of us it is easy. But, what matters MOST is how we deal with our challenges.
After viewing the video below, we took some class time to reflect with shoulder partners. Students were asked to share a sentence, or scene that stood out to them the most in Amy's speech. Rather than saying "this is too hard" this year, we should look at our challenges as blessings. Doing so can help us go further than we ever thought. What a good way to think of our year ahead.
As homework, students are to write an essay to me that highlights some guiding questions. These include:
- What will you miss & not miss about elementary school?
- What are you excited & worried about in middle school?
- After watching Amy Purdy's TED talk video on her challenges, what are some challenges or things you struggle with in your own life (academic and/or personal)
- After looking at your answers to the last question, what are some things you can do to help you better deal with your own challenges and struggles?
- Students can end their essay with something that they took away from Amy's speech.
The assignment is due on loose leaf paper this Friday, and I modeled for students what a heading should look like on any assignment they hand in (Name, period, and date). This information is to be written in the upper right hand corner of their papers.
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