Hopeful Attitudes

People have been setting goals since Abel beat Cain with his better gift to their Dad, Adam.  Of course, Cain then beat Abel like narcs at a bikers’ rally. There are personal goals, company goals, team goals, governmental goals, financial goals, and on and on and on. A goal is a desired result a person or system envisions, plans, and commits to achieve.  Envisions, plans, and commits to. Envisions, plans, and commits to.  A goal is really not a goal unless a person truly envisions it. A goal is really not a goals unless a person plans to make it happen. A goal is really not a goal unless a person commits to it. What were your goals when you were in elementary school? Middle School? High School? College? Adulthood?  Bet they changed over time. I recently read an article about students and goal-setting. A Gallup poll determined that the majority of students lack faith in their ability to reach goals.  Guess at which age to begin to form this idea – 7 or 8!  Yep, so those students who are 2^nd or 3^rd graders may have already developed a mindset on what they can or cannot achieve.  Still reading?  Only 42% of students aged 10-18 say they are actively pursuing their goals.  Still reading?  65% of students say that the obstacles in the way of achieving their goals are just too hard to get through.  They suffer from something I wrote about a few weeks ago – a loss of hope.  The key to achieving goals, not matter what age you are, is to have ahopeful attitude.  We could be influential in turning this data around.

A school corporation in Virginia uses the S.M.A.R.T. approach with their students.  S = specific. M = measurable. A = attainable. R = realistic. T = timely  We have set goals for this “testing season” at the school, team, and individual student levels. What about the daily goal that is posted in your classroom? Is it specific? Is it measurable? Is it attainable? Is it realistic? Is it timely?  Think about your long-term learning goals in the same way. As we help students track their progress toward goals, think about this - Does every student understand exactly what the goal is specifically?  Can you measure student progress toward these goals ? Is the goal that you posted attainable? (some will not think so) Is the goal posted realistic? (some will not think so) Is the goal timely?  That last one can be achieved by breaking the larger goal into smaller segments. As an example, ask the kids in your class what they want to be when they grow up.  Do you hear engineer, doctor, lawyer, vet, pro athlete? Then ask the kids what  they are doing to reach this goal. We have to show them the connection. What have to show them what it takes. We have to show them ways to go through the obstacles; not around the obstacles but through them and support them along the way.  As they reach segmented goals in a timely manner, their hopeful attitude is elevated so that tackling the next goal will be done with  fervor. We can help them envision it. We can help them plan for it. We can provide guidance on how to commit to it.  We have to give them hope.

Burn the Ships!

In 1519 (my sophomore year of high school), Cortez led a Spanish fleet to the eastern coast of Mexico.  All aboard had hoped for a new land full of promise; a land of milk and honey.  What they discovered was a little more than they bargained for – fierce looking Aztec Indians who didn’t look like they wanted to sing kumbaya around a camp fire.  Actually, their Chief, Montezuma, received Cortez and his men warmly and invited them in do exactly that…minus the smores.  Cortez was no dummy and he smelled the scent in the wind that this welcome party was really an act of deception enacted to catch the Spaniards asleep at the wheel.  Then all heck broke loose and the fighting was fierce.Many of Cortez’ men shared with each other their fear and pending desire to return home.  Cortez caught wind of this mutiny and put an end to any chance of return by simply burning their ships. He did leave them with the option of swimming back to Spain.  He pleaded with them to charge on and take what they had worked for months to get.  They did just that and the ensuing battles led to the downfall of the Aztec empire.  Side note = you may have heard of Montezuma’s revenge…that’s where the phrase comes from.  Plus, we all know what drinking the water in Mexico leads to.

In about three weeks, we will again face state testing in the form of ISTEP.  This is a scary time for some of our kids; okay, it’s a scary time for some of you as well.  The results from this testing session and the session in the spring will determine our status as a school in the eyes of the state in terms of student achievement and student growth.  Our results will be published along with the other hundreds of corporations in the state.  Our parents will receive an individualized report on how well Johnny did.  Plus, if you are a teacher in the subject areas being assessed, the achievement and growth scores will “significantly inform” the teacher evaluation.  So, there is a lot riding on these tests and no matter what are personal feelings are about them, they are still a savage that needs to be conquered!  I am telling you that if you have prepared your students academically and emotionally, then burn the ships, we are here to stay!  We have worked far too hard with a focused effort to let anything stand in our way. We’ve passed the point of no return so let the ships burn!

What Song Will They Open With?

Remember the time(s) you scored tickets to see your favorite music group in concert?  Did you heart race a little faster? Were you really looking forward to it?   Did the feeling of anticipation just overwhelm you?  Side note = what was the first concert that you saw? (it’s okay if it was The Backstreet Boys…if you are the ages of our daughters – 24 and 28). My first concert was The Doobie Brothers at the old Chicago Stadium with this really pretty girl that I am now married to. Picture yourself in your seat, or mosh pit, waiting for your favorite band or solo performer to begin.  Did you wonder what song would be the opening song? Imagine a group such as the Beatles beginning their concert with “Across the Universe” instead of “Get Back”. How about the Stones opening with “Fool to Cry”rather than “Start Me Up ”or Bob Seger beginning with “Shakedown” instead of “Old Time Rock & Roll” or “Nutbush City Limits”?  Billy Joel opening with “Cold Spring Harbor” rather than “Angry Young Man”? Bad Company not opening with “Bad Company”? Toby Keith opening with anything other than “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”?  No matter who your favorites are, you cannot help but feel a little disappointed if the opening song is not what you expected and kept you in your seat wondering why.  There’s a reason why music groups start their concerts with something upbeat, an easy sing-a-long or a big hit.  They do this to rev you up, to get you juiced, and to get you into the experience before they “sneak in” some new material.  You’ve been there, so you understand. They do it on purpose. The group wants to engage you and they do this intentionally.

It’s the same way in the classroom.  What does the start of your instructional period look like?  Do you have something that the kids are anticipating as being engaging or do they mosey into class with a look of boredom?  Are you capturing their attention right at the start or is it about as exciting as watching a haircut?  Do you employ bell ringers that get them engaged or do they request a nap?  Are they running to get to your class because they do not want to miss one second or do you regularly have multiple tardies?  Do you often use the time-honored Madeline Hunter’s “Anticipatory Set” or let the air out of the emotional tires?  Do your prompts have a direct tie-in to the essential understandings or is there no connection whatsoever.  While the old “Sage on the Stage” method of teaching is outdated, it does not dismiss us from getting kids excited about learning.  Talented teachers do this all the time.  Not sure how to do this?  Here’s a simple philosophy to remember:  the easiest way to get kids excited about learning is to be excited about it yourself!  You can make ANY topic come alive with a little creativity.  Start your classroom concert with one of “your best songs” and wait for the encore request from your students.  You have to do this intentionally.