These questions and activities provide opportunities for students to notice emotional cues and limiting beliefs and identify alternate responses to learn to persist. The discussion is a way to apply the affirmation to each of the five core competencies of social and emotional learning.
We provide the idea-starters with the intent that teachers can develop creative variations to adapt to age-appropriate use for their students.
SEL Discussion Resource: I HAVE PERSISTENCE IN WHAT I BELIEVE
Self-awareness
- Write or say the affirmation together: I have persistence in what I believe.
- Persistence means keeping on going when you feel like quitting. Describe how you react when you feel like quitting.
- What thoughts do you have?
- What emotions do you experience?
- How does your body react?
- Now describe how you feel when you keep going even when you wanted to quit.
Self-management
- If you believe you are a capable person, you are less likely to quit. Write a paragraph or pair with a friend to discuss the following:
- My short-term goal
- Acknowledge my feelings (scared, nervous, excited, eager, etc.)
- Why I believe I can do it.
- A positive statement about what success will look like.
- List some positive beliefs that we can work on to replace limiting beliefs:
- Example: I believe I can improve.
- Example: I believe I am competent.
Responsible decision-making
- How do you know when you should persist with something and when you should change direction or try a new goal?
- Discuss in a group or with partners some examples of short-term goals, and how each will take persistence.
- Choose one of these statements to complete:
- I believe mistakes help me learn to persist because….
- I believe mistakes are not helpful for persistence because…
Social awareness
- Act it out: work in small groups to create a skit that demonstrates persistence in what you believe.
- Turn each of these statements around to a positive:
- Example: I can’t do this… (yet, but I will learn).
- It’s too hard…
- I don’t know how…
- I need help…
- I don’t get it…
- I made a mistake…
- I want to quit.
Relationship skills
- Discuss: what is the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset?
- Play a short game in small groups. Then come back and discuss:
- Where did you catch yourself having a fixed mindset during the game?
- Did you want to quit? Why?
- How did you overcome a challenge and persist?
- Were there any arguments during the game? How did you resolve them?
Next week’s SEL focus: I BELIEVE IN MYSELF
To find the full-size posters to use in your classroom (or the magnet or postcard size) visit our store.
Suggestion for virtual learning:
- Purchase a pack of 30 postcards for the teacher to hold the appropriate one up to the screen during discussion.
- Purchase a pack of 30 small hand-off notes for each student to have at home with them. This allows for an interactive and hands-on experience.