The Basics
First, kids need to be exposed to the basic early skills in life. As much as I love the various school systems (be it the private, catholic or public system) and believe that many have excellent and forward-thinking programs, there simply isn’t enough time and effort being spent in classes on the basic skills of organization, motivation, time management, study skills, etc., that are the building blocks to their education.
How can we expect kids to be ready to take great notes, or brainstorm and plan out a project, much less tackle an entire textbook of notes in English (or even….holy geez….it’s coming…..in FRENCH) if we don’t teach them those basic skills?
Belief in Oneself
Children of all ages NEED to be told, taught, and have engrained in them that they can do ANYTHING they set their mind to!!! Too many kids don’t really understand this concept and really aren’t sure of what it means anyway. They need to be told to set their goal (even if it seems totally unrealistic right now) and set down the strategies for achieving those goals. They need to understand how to work with a timeline and what to do if they deviate at all from said timeline. Kids need to be reminded regularly from parents, teachers, other adults in their surroundings, that they are so capable of doing anything they set their mind to.
Reinforcing These Ideas is Absolutely Critical
Kids need to be reminded, even when the chips are/seem down, that this isn’t the end and that even though they may have encountered a failure, it’s all about how you get back up that matters.
Belief in oneself is a life-long conviction that kids need to develop, and they need to be given opportunities to show and explore their talents. I remember a student I used to teach who was very shy and therefore afraid of getting in the center of a “dance-a-thon” at our school dances. In grade 7, he used to watch with envy how the other kids danced in the center and how everyone cheered them on. A couple of teachers noticed how he was trying to muster his courage to be able to do this. He watched on in grade 7, and slowly began to gain more confidence in grade 8. At the graduation dance in grade 8, this young man noticed that no “dance-a-thon” was going on, and so, he amazingly decided to start the circle himself, by beginning to dance and do all kinds of impressive moves right there on the dance floor. Quickly, the crowd parted and he was in the center, doing his dance. I was so immensely proud of him!
Putting In The Time
Many kids don’t know that it’s all about putting in the time and the effort to achieve their goals. Any goal that is worth achieving is going to require that time, that dedication, that effort and above all, the persistence to keep going and keep trying even when all the doors seem to be slamming in your face.
A Great Learning Tool
A great tool to teach kids is to make sure they take the lesson out of anything. Whether they succeeded at something or failed at it, taking the lesson and making changes as needed is what it’s all about.
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