Greatness

"Children who are convinced of their greatness will manifest it as a reality."

"When you reflect greatness to a child, the child begins to act out greatness."

I believe that every child has the potential for greatness.  I believe that it is our responsibility to not only help them find that greatness within themselves but to also help them to believe in their own greatness. So, on top creating leaders, teaching reading, math, science, writing, social studies, manners, how to walk in the hall, how to be respectful and responsible, etc......we must also help every child realize his or her potential for greatness and how they can let that shine.  I know that we are faced with so much during any given school day.  I know that the demands of our jobs have become at times overwhelming.  Though our students may lack many needs from home, I believe that we can create an "inner wealth" that can help drive them to success, help drive them to overcome and break what may be a cycle in their life.  Howard Glasser defines this inner wealth as the ability to feel successful, cope, be happy, and grow within ourselves and with other people.  "Inner wealth is an inner experience of our greatness and deeply connected to our feeling that we have meaning, that we are important just by virtue of being alive." - Glasser

We have begun looking at the nurtured heart approach, and this is one way we can help our students realize their own greatness.  If we consider this just one more thing, we are missing the point.  Creating leaders and developing and realizing greatness addresses the whole child, and I do believe we have a responsibility today to teach the whole child.  I also believe that this mindset will lead to far better students in math, reading, writing, etc.  One nurtured heart principal noted that children who come to experience inner wealth do not need to be coerced into preparing for and doing well on tests; rather, they desire to do well.  They want to show up ready to participate.  They want to do their homework and schoolwork and perform well, no matter what their home situation might be.  Wouldn't it be nice if our phone calls home were to report progress and success instead of problems?

Greatness is something everyone possess.  Even on the days we make mistakes, we do a lot of things right.  With all the things we do right, we demonstrate greatness.  This is true of each of us as well as each of our students.  When things are going "right", we often say nothing, but as soon as a mistake is made or a bad choice, we give a great deal of energy to the negative.  Even with ourselves.  We forget to notice all that we do well....all that we do right, and then we beat ourselves up over a mistake or something that didn't go so well.  Knock it off!  YOU are GREAT, and you possess so many qualities of greatness.  We need to start noticing those qualities in ourselves, each other and in our students.

"Greatness is the energy that dances and shines within each of us."

This can be done by recognizing our students in vivid verbal detail whenever they are doing something right or not doing something wrong.  As our students begin to accept their own greatness, they can choose to live lives that cultivate and expand this greatness.  Think for a minute of a student with whom you have encountered a great deal of difficulty.  The student in the room who tends to act out or not follow directions.  Got him or her in your mind?  Now, think of five qualities of greatness this student possesses.  Yes, greatness qualities.  Now, how can we help each of these children see and believe in their own greatness?  Chances are these students often hear what they are doing wrong.  They get a great deal of energy when they are misbehaving.  Let's try to turn that energy upside down and give them energy when they are displaying their greatness.  When they are making good choices.  Label the qualities of greatness so that they begin to see and recognize it in themselves.  

We have so many kids who believe they are bad.  They hear this at home and from each other.  We have students who have seen nothing but poor choices.  They hear yelling and screaming all the time.  They are surrounded by negativity.  It will be difficult for them to shine and show their greatness if we don't help them see the qualities of greatness they each have.  Within each of them is an inner wealth and so many qualities of greatness, and they are in the right place with the right people to help them find it and believe in themselves.  

Can we start this week by identifying the great qualities in each person, in ourselves, in our students, in each other?  Can we put more energy into the positive this week?  Notice the greatness.  Refuse to energize negativity. Relentlessly energize success. 

"Seeing and reflecting greatness in a child in the moment brings the child to an understanding of his own worth, value, ability to be loved and ability to contribute."

 

"Seeing and reflecting greatness in a child in the moment brings the child to an understanding of his own worth, value, ability to be loved and ability to contribute."

Articles Worth Reading:

What's so Genius about Genius Hour - +Pernille Ripp @pernilleripp

Why I dislike Homework and how the research backs me up - shared by +Erin Klein @kleinerin

8 Things We Can't Accept In Education - +Justin Tarte @justintarte

7 reasons to incorporate movement, songs and stories into your teaching - shared by +Steve Reifman

6 Ways to help kids become quality readers - shared by +Steve Reifman @stevereifman

5 signs your students are growing more confident - shared by +Angela Maiers @angelamaiers



Videos Worth Watching:

Elements of Greatness

Kid makes dad proud with math score - Experiencing Success - I love this reaction!!!

John C Maxwell teaches about time management

This is a must watch - Ellen Degeneres Haunted House ......Be Brave!  Made me Laugh out Loud!