My first quarter grades are due on Wednesday. It’s hard to believe that the school year is already 25% over! As I grade final tests and essays, I’m evaluating how well my students are mastering the reading and writing skills we’ve been practicing in class.
But I’m also hoping that they’re learning some less tangible — but far more important — life skills.
1. I hope they learn the value of “down time.”
Four years ago, when I asked my seniors how much “quiet time” they have each day — no noise, no motion — they unanimously said, “None!” Life hasn’t slowed down since then; if anything, my kids are bombarded with even more stimulation. Opportunities to “multi-task” are limitless.
I hope my students learn to “be still” so they will know Who is God, to quiet their minds so they can hear the still small voice.
2. I hope they learn the value of hard work.
Too many of my students still believe the “genius” myth: if they’re smart, learning will be effortless. If they struggle, it means they’re stupid and should just quit. When it comes to sports, they understand that becoming a skilled player takes hard work, and lots of it. They know that the best players are those who practice the most even after becoming the best. But in the classroom, they expect instant results.
I hope my students learn to work their minds hard, refusing to settle for what comes naturally or easily but pushing their thinking skills through relentless practice.
3. I hope they learn the value of delayed gratification.
I grew up hearing “Work when it’s time to work; play when it’s time to play.” I studied in my room, and when my homework was done I could watch a favorite show on the TV in the family room. But today’s kids are surrounded by “reward” options at all times: social media sites, video games, TV shows that don’t require a TV to view, smart phones, and the list goes on. Many kids work a little, play a little, work a little, play a little. Toggling so rapidly between both, they don’t fully invest in — or benefit from — either.
I hope my students learn the satisfaction of focusing fully on a project and then, once it’s done, enjoying a well-earned reward.
4. I hope they’ll learn the value of empathy and kindness.
From an emotional maturity standpoint, many my high school sophomores remind me of the 7th and 8th grade students I taught two decades ago. Kids who look old enough to “know better” seem genuinely baffled when talk with them about how hurtful their seemingly-innocent teasing can be. Those with outgoing personalities often don’t realize how much they can hurt a more quiet peer with just a few words.
I hope my students learn to care about and for their peers, to proactively avoid even the most “harmless” of bullying.
5. I hope they’ll learn the value of doing their own work.
When I see a group of students huddled around one paper, all copying furiously, my heart sinks. No, I don’t think that each handout a teacher gives is worth its weight in gold. But I do think we do our children a disservice when we focus on “getting the grade” rather than on character development.
I hope my students learn that the personal integrity they develop by doing their own work is far more valuable than any score or grade.
What are you hoping that your child learns this year?
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