Perseverance

My home school is a National School of Character, in fact the only school in the country to have been given this distinguished honor twice.  It is one of the things I am most proud of about my home school.  Shades Cahaba focuses on teaching our students about core values and respecting one another.  We honor those who show good character, we have character partners in other grades, we encourage community service and we teach specific character traits.

A couple months ago, I decided that I wanted to bring a little bit of my home school into my own classroom here, so I introduced a character word of the month.  I have displayed the word in my classroom, and each day, we discuss a quote about the value, or ask for examples of how pupils have used that value or where they have seen it.  Every so often, I choose pupils who I think have done an exemplary job of showing that character word, and I place their name up on the board.  It's a very small recognition, but of course the hope is that children are really showing these character traits not because they will be rewarded, but because it is the right thing to do.

I started with respect and then caring in December.  Although the children were very caring in December, it was a busy month, and I'm afraid I kept forgetting to recognize those particular children.  This month, I chose perseverance.  Yesterday, as our first day back, I spent some time in each of my classes talking to them about what perseverance means.  We watched video clips of people pursuing dreams despite difficulties that stood in their way and created our own definition of the word.  

I even shared my own story of perseverance.  As I told the children yesterday, I'm proud of a lot of things in my life, but I am most proud of the things that I've truly had to work for.  When I was in second grade at Iola Roberts Elementary, I remember learning how to jump rope.  I was never (nor am I now) an athletic person, but jumping rope was right up my alley.  In order to receive a certificate showing that I in fact knew how to jump rope, I had to jump 25 consecutive jumps.  This was a huge struggle for me.  I could get to 8 or 12, but I kept tripping on the rope.  I remember practicing at home, for days, perhaps weeks, hopping around the concrete that surrounded the pool.  It could have been my stubbornness rather than my perseverance that truly won out.  Then the day came when I felt like I had, and I went to show the coach so that I could get that treasured slip of paper.  I'm sure it is not nearly as grand or as exciting as I now vividly remember, but I do clearly remember this moment:  I began jumping and became very nervous when I got closer to 20.  My friends who had watched me struggle gathered around and began counting along.  I made it to 25, but I didn't stop!  I think I made it past 60 on that go.  I remember my coach's face and her cheer when the rope finally fell to the ground.  I know it's silly, and I'm not sure why I remember it so very clearly, but it was a truly proud moment for me.

Today, I asked my pupils to share stories of times in their lives when they had to show perseverance.  Many had beautiful stories to share such as learning a new piece on the guitar, doing a certain movement in gymnastics, scoring a goal in football, and some stories that have not yet come to an end.  One pupil, a very clever boy who loves to share, raised his hand to tell his perseverance story.  I was eager to hear as he usually has answers that are spot on.  "Today, I had a big bag of crisps at lunch, and I started eating it, but I didn't think I'd be able to finish it.  But then, I kept going, and I finished it!"

Wishing that you too may find obstacles in your life, so that you may then look back having some truly proud moments.  Or if nothing else, enjoy getting to the bottom of a bag of crisps!