"Mind over matter...if you don't mind it does not matter"
My dad would always rattle off poems and quotes in the morning when I was growing up. I was the tenth of eleven kids so I did a lot of observering when I was young. "There is a price to be paid in success, that price MUST be made in advance" was one of his favorites. He was always talking about having the right attitude no matter what we were doing and how important it was to be positive. When I saw the part in this section of the course about bringing your personality into your teaching I started thinking back on all the quotes that I have said in class that I got from my father's early morning breakfast talks(more like a coach talking to his team in the locker room before a game). Most of my sisters were runners and my dad would love watching them run. I loved watching them as well and would always stand next to him at their track meets. Three of my sisters ran the 2 mile so it was 8 laps around the track. Sometimes people would go out too fast and fade away at the end. My sisters were late kickers so they would be in the back of the pack at the beginning of most races. One time my sister was in last place coming around the second lap and my dad yelled to her, "You're right where you need to be!" After she ran by I asked him why he said that to her if she was in last place. He said that sometimes you may be in the back of the pack at the start and that's ok, it's where you are in the end that counts. As the race went on she caught the pack and took the lead in the last lap. When she ran by with 200 meters to go my dad yelled, "Just hit light, and GO!"
I find myself saying some of his quotes in class to my students when they are feeling confused or expressing doubts. It's important to let them know that they are right where they need to be in their career right now. Letting them know they are just beginning and the race is not a sprint. If they feel confused or if they feel they are in the back of the pack right now it does not mean they won't be leading the way years down the road. Then you can just hit light and go for it in their career!
Great motivater! it is the little things that make a big difference !
Hi Marjorie:
It's the little things like this that can help to keep students motivated, and it may be just what one student needs to make it through the class on any given day.
Regards, Barry
Hi Michael:
Great points. We're talking about keeping the student motivated, while using the philosophy that if the student's learning is the main point, then we don't always have to be "right" or have the final say about a topic.
Regards, Barry
Your father sounds like a wise man! I truly believe that "positive breeds positive"!
I use daily inspirational quotes as well. I try to make it apply to the days lesson but sometimes it is just to inspire or give encouragement to the students. in my "people skills" class for cosmetology, it is a homework requirement to keep a small notebook of their favorite quotes that they have or find throughout the class time.
Kindest regards,
Margie Helms
I like those quotes; will use them in my class.
Hi Mark:
I think enthusiastic, dynamic, and positive personalities make for what I call "the upward flow", an envirnonment that draws participants into the discussion, activity or lesson. People want to be part of positive and welcoming actions.
Regards, Barry
Positive people exude energy which is mirrored by all those around including students.
Hi Gary:
I use quotes every day. If the daily lesson is typically more difficult, I use "Smooth seas do not make good sailors". It's scrawled acros the top of the board the whole class session as a reminder, to reinforce the idea that hard work results in good outcomes.
I collect pertinent or potential quates from all sources, clip'em, save'em, use'em as needed. It's interesting how what someone has said in the past is relevant today. Or, the way an inspirational idea is worded can make a student think, reflect, and hopefully incorporate the meaning into their personal or work ethic foundation.
Regards, Barry
You know I found this to be very enlightening! make's you wish more people could be like that. I have meet a very few people who always have positive thing's to say. I think that with a little okay alot of work, I would like to be more like that.
