Friday, October 7, 2011

RESPECT FOR YOUR FUTURE (October 7)

"Develop a passion for learning.  If you do, you will never cease to grow."  Anthony J. D'Angelo

As we wrap up the "Week of Respect," today's theme is Respect for Your Future.  While the future may seem far away to middle school students, we, as adults, can tell them that it will be here sooner than they think.  We reminded students, though, that even though the future may seem far away, it is never to early to dream or to set goals - that is where respect for your future begins.

Our students need to dream and dream big.  They were encouraged today to dream without limits.  They were encouraged to set lofty goals that may be tough to accomplish.  While the dreams and goals are important, respecting the future means that you must act on them.  Working hard, being responsible, making good choices and continually learning are all part of making dreams come true and respecting the future.

Today, our teachers wore a t-shirt or sweatshirt from the college they attended.  We wanted to provide a visual representation of a commitment to learning and what it takes to accomplish goals and dreams.  Our teachers not only had dreams, but they followed through and developed a life-long love of and commitment to learning.  Education is an important part of our students' future and we want them to respect it.

In math classes today, the students are being asked to take some time to think about their own futures.  They read a couple of poems - You Can Be Whatever You Want To Be by Donna Levine and Awakening... by John McLeod.  Using the poems as inspiration, students will be writing about their own hopes and dreams for their futures and what they think they will need to do to work toward them.

While it may be difficult for middle schoolers to be certain about what the future will hold for them, it is imperative that they have dreams for the future.

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