Classroom Lesson #1 “This quarter we are going to learn about a program called Student Success Skills. It has helped students from all over the country be successful in all sorts of areas, school work, athletics, having good relationships, knowing how to handle tough situations. These few key skills and strategies are easily taught to anyone who wants to learn them.”

You can make your “learning. net” smaller by adding key You can make your “learning net” smaller by adding key skills and strategies. “Picture a fishing net. You are going to catch more fish if your net has smaller holes. The way to make the gaps in our learning net smaller is to add these key skills and strategies I want to share with you.”

Student Success Skills: We Focus on Five Things Goal setting, progress monitoring and success sharing Creating a caring, supportive and encouraging classroom Cognitive/Memory skills Performing under pressure: Managing anxiety Building Healthy Optimism “The Student Success Skills program can be summed up with five things that we will focus on.” Review five things.

“We will be finding out more about these Learning Skills, Social Skills and Self-management Skills. We know that a combination of these three skill sets in addition to a caring community seems to be the keys to academic and social success.”

So, What is in it for Me? Make learning easier Spring standardized tests easier Look forward to coming to class Learn memory strategies to help remember facts Learn to manage anxiety so you can perform better under pressure Have better relationships with peers Be happier and healthier “So, here is what’s in it for you: Choose the top two things you most want from the program. Give me a thumbs up when you have your top two picked out. Next go through each and ask “Who had this one as one of your top two.” Repeat for each the seven. Are you ready to get started learning the SSS strategies? Then lets get started with Building a community of caring, support and encouragement. “ Go to next slide.

“Let’s see if we can figure out what a caring, encouraging, supportive classroom would look like, sound like, and feel like. “ Divide class into groups Ask each group to brainstorm 5 concrete examples for each column (60 seconds each). Ask trios to report to whole class. Record answers onto projected chart.

One of the greatest predictors of student success is their level of healthy optimistic thinking. Seligman (1995). One of the greatest predictors of student success is their level of healthy optimistic thinking.

The Key to Healthy Optimism Don’t doubt your ability “Being optimistic about what you can accomplish is important. If what you are doing isn’t working, don’t doubt your ability. Instead you can take a look at what you are doing and try something else.”

If what you’re doing isn’t working – pick a new strategy “If what you are doing isn’t working, pick a new strategy. When you hit a dead end, try a different path.”

Optimism Don’t doubt your ability Doubt your strategy If what you are doing is not working Try Something Different!!! Have volunteer student read to class.

“Pay attention because next week you will have to explain it to each other. Imagine: It is important to be able to picture yourself being successful. Remember-Don’t doubt your ability. Practice: Put into practice the skill or strategy you chose to help you reach your goal. Notice even small improvements. Start over: If your first try isn’t successful, start over with a different strategy or maybe just make a slight change to the strategy you are currently using. You are Very Close: Reminds yourself to never give up. With continued practice you will get there. “

Kaizen Japanese Continuous and never ending improvement The ability to notice even very small improvements in ourselves and also in others “One way to stay optimistic is to use the principle of Kaizen.“

Kaizen Little by little, Bit by bit, I’m improving, Everyday Read this together out loud

Hand out SSS booklets. “What if you could control just a few things that would almost guarantee that you had high energy and a positive mood most of the time? Lets go through these five keys to energy and mood and rate ourselves for this past week.”

Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. Think about your week. Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. For example: Did you eat even a little more fruit or vegetables? Did you eat even a little less sweets or chips? Did you drink even a little more water or a little less soda? After students rate the week for nutrition ask a few volunteers: “How many circled the up triangle this week?” “Tell us what you did to improve” “How many agree that this is a healthy way to improve nutrition?” Review slide

Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. Think about your week. Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. For example: Did you spend even a little more time doing any of the things you enjoy this week? After students rate the week for nutrition ask a few volunteers: “How many circled the up triangle this week?” “Tell us what you did to improve” “How many agree that this is a healthy way to improve nutrition?” Review slide

Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. Think about your week. Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. For example: Did you spend even a little more time doing any type of exercise this week? After students rate the week for nutrition ask a few volunteers: “How many circled the up triangle this week?” “Tell us what you did to improve” “How many agree that this is a healthy way to improve nutrition?” Review slide

Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. Think about your week. Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. Did you spend even a little more time being with people who you respect and enjoy and who respect and enjoy you? After students rate the week for nutrition ask a few volunteers: “How many circled the up triangle this week?” “Tell us what you did to improve” “How many agree that this is a healthy way to improve nutrition?” Review slide

Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. Think about your week. Did you get even a little closer to the recommended 8-9 hours of sleep this week? After students rate the week for nutrition ask a few volunteers: “How many circled the up triangle this week?” “Tell us what you did to improve” “How many agree that this is a healthy way to improve Rest?” Review slide

Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. Think about your week. Circle the up triangle if you improved even a little this past week. For example: Did you have even a little more energy this week? Was your mood even a little bit better this week? After students rate the week for energy and mood ask them to think about and then share with a partner: What connections can you make between how you rated items 6 & 7, energy and mood, with any of the first five items? After the pair share ask a few volunteers to share their connections with the class. Review slide

Goal Setting for Health & Wellness Think, Write, Pair Share & Volunteer Share GOAL: To improve what I eat this week. ACTION PLAN: I am going to cut back to one soda per day and eat a piece of fresh fruit each day. “Look back at your Looking Good Feeling Good sheet and pick one area you most want to improve this coming week and one thing you could start doing right away to help you improve. I will give you a few seconds of quiet time now to think and record your goal and action plan in your planner. Next, we are going to discuss a special kind of listening called Listening with Eyes, Ears and Heart.” Go to next slide for eyes, ears & heart .

“What do you think each of the three words (eyes, ears, heart) mean when related to good listening?” Review and provide examples of each. “We are going to practice this kind of listening during the next several lessons.”

Take A Break “I’d like to share one other idea that students find fun and helpful. It involves taking breaks from studying and moving to improve concentration and general health. What are some strategies you use when you need a break from studying?” (Stretching, deep breathing, getting a snack, going for a short walk)

“The Student Success Skills program is about helping you to reach the top of this Pyramid. Fun and joy come from mastery, which means being very good at something. When you are good at something you have confidence in your ability and you are successful at it, and mastery comes from being persistent - not giving up. The way to keep going is to be encouraging to yourself, not doubting your ability and noticing even small improvements. It also helps to be encouraging to others and notice their small improvements. Remember Kaizen as a way to encourage yourself.”

Kaizen Little by little, Bit by bit, I’m improving, Everyday Read through slide

Looking Ahead… Skills for next lesson: Life Skills Listening with Eyes, Ears & Heart Seven Keys to Course Mastery Calm Place Breathe, Picture, Focus Overview of new skills for next lesson and skills we will continue to use. “Next week we will see how your goals and plans turned out. You will get a chance to share with a partner how your plan worked. Good luck.”