I bet you know which arm of our PERMA model Persistence fits into? Yep – It’s the accomplishment area.
Being persistent means working hard to finish what we set out to achieve and not giving up. It means setting and achieving goals despite challenges and difficulties. Being persistent involves “grit” which is similar to stamina and effort. People who show persistence have a growth mindset, they know that if they practise and put in effort, they can achieve their goals!
Do you remember when you were learning how to read or ride a two wheeler bike? It was tricky at first, but you used your grit and kept trying until you’d got the hang of it. What happens is that is new (neural) pathways are created, and, like muscles, these help your brain to grow and you to become good at things.
Lessons on Grit
It pays to be persistent!
The Most Magnificant Thing
A Little Spot of Perseverence
(Perseverence is a synonym for persistence!)
Have you set your goals for this term?
What is your main takeaway from “Lessons on Grit?”
As we embark on Week 5 of our new school year we will be focussing on friendship which is a big part of the Relationships arm of our PREMA model. At Barwon Heads PS the friendship character strength means; “I am a good friend to others and understand that my friends have thoughts and feelings”.
Every day at school we see examples of students who have great friendships because they talk, laugh and play together and care about each other’s feelings.
Good friendships have a positive impact on wellbeing for a number of reasons. Supportive friendships can alleviate stress and provide security and a sharing ear for tackling difficulties. Being in the company of those that we like can evoke pleasure and laughter. Furthermore, forming new friendships requires an element of bravery and reciprocity. The famous Harvard study (almost 80 years old) into the health and happiness of a group of graduates found that it was relationships that had the most powerful effect on health and that those who cultivated their relationships over the long term tended to live for longer.
With the biggest predictor of happiness and fulfilment being our relationships, the need for us all to pay attention to our friendships becomes evident.
At Barwon Heads PS we use the analogy of “bucket filling” as a metaphor for maintaining good relationships.
Here is “Have You Filled A Bucket Today?” just in case your classs hasn’t seen it yet
“Stick and Stone”
I know that this is from the eprspective of kinder children, but it’s cute!!
For older children “The Very Best of Friends” shows what can happen if friends are neglected
There is a saying that “Kindness makes the world go around!” and do you know what? I agree. One of the best things about kindness is that when you do something kind for someone else, it makes you feel really good.
The character strength of kindness sits within the “Positive Emotions” arm of our PERMA model.
Kindness is my favourite character strength and when classes are surveyed, guess which character strength is usually the most popular? You guessed right – kindness.
We never forget when someone has shown kindness towards us, but research has shown that the wellbeing benefits of being kind to others is far greater than receiving kindness!
Kindness can be as easy as smiling at someone and saying hello.
Here are a few reasons for being kind:
Being kind feels good. Doing something for someone else really does make us feel good. Just as running releases endorphins, so does kindness. Make someone smile and you’ll feel better for having done so.
Kindness broadens our perspective. In order to be kind, we have to pay attention to what is happening around us. As we notice more things and help others, we get a glimpse of other ways of looking at things. A broader perspective helps us to keep things in context.
Kindness softens our heart. When we look for kind deeds, beauty, and the opportunity for kindness, we’ll find that we are more compassionate and more tolerant. As we practice empathy, it opens our heart to others.
Kindness brightens our world. When we are kind to people, it makes them happy. The more people who experience kindness from us, the more happy people will be in our lives. When those around us are happier, our world becomes a brighter, lighter place to live.
Kindness helps people feel respected and less alone. By recognising someone’s need for help and acting on it in a compassionate manner, it makes the recipient feel valued. It also makes the giver feel better about themselves and more connected.
Kindness makes people want to be around us. One of the most common responses to kindness is gratitude. People appreciate what we’ve done for them. Our kindness is very attractive, so they want to be around us and actually seek us out.
Kindness bears wonderful fruit. Kindness begets kindness, openness, health and reduces the effects of stress on our bodies and our hearts
Kindness begets kindness. When you are kind to others, the impact of your action doesn’t stop there. Many times the recipient of your kindness and others who see or hear about your kindness are inspired to be kinder. The ripples of kindness are truly endless.
One of my favourite quotes is: “In a world where you can be anything, choose kind.”
This week we reflect on the ‘Love of Learning’ character strength. What is it that you, as a learner enjoy or have a yearning to learn more about? What subject or area do you feel most excited about learning? Do you have an interest that you feel passionate about?
People who possess the character strength love of learning are motivated to acquire new skills or knowledge or to build on existing skills or knowledge. They feel good when they are learning new things, even though they may occasionally become frustrated when the material is challenging.
Love of Learning sits within the Engagement area of our PERMA as people with this character strength like to make the most of learning opportunities.
Thank you Mr Falker (14 mins)
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
The Most Magnificent Thing
The Boy Who Loved Words
Me at My Best – A general clip about the Character Strengths
