2021, with the world still mostly locked down, looks a lot like 2020. Yes, some economies are opening up more than before, but the majority are still not there yet.
These are the times that call for urgency about the values that come from lessons we ought to be living out. Now is the time when we teachers are called to pass on what our students need to learn from us.
Yes, The English Blog team knows the value of “Rest, Recharge, Reset” (check out our vlog all about it). Yet, at the same time, we are also goal driven as we’ve discussed in the vlog “Setting Goals to Kick-off the New Year”. But we cannot navigate well in between these two polarities without learning these three urgent things that we also need to teach our students.
1. Adaptability
This word simply means “unlearning,” according to Natalie Fratto’s TED talk. We humans are creatures of habit. For most of us who are experiencing a global pandemic for the first time, we surely have a lot to unlearn. We need to teach students that in life, there will be so many more uncertainties. And in those times, we cannot remain as we are. We have to adapt and make the best out of the circumstances we find ourselves in.
2. Inspiration
Motivation is external and inspiration is internal. We must teach our students to find their inspiration so that even without us, their teachers, even without their parents, they’ll be able to move themselves towards accomplishing what they need to do despite the difficult circumstances. As we remind them to stay grateful, to grit through, and grow through it all, it is ultimately what personally inspires them that will catapult them to succeed in their chosen endeavor in life, no matter the odds.
3. Self-discipline
This is what Olympians and the rich and famous have in common: they are disciplined. This is the highest form of governance. The reason why we need governments to manage the nation through laws is that not all of us have discipline. The same goes for school; that’s the reason why we have rules and regulations. But if we can find ways to teach students to have self-discipline, we will certainly set them up to succeed in life.
Beloved teachers, let us not get caught up with just teaching what’s in our curriculum or lesson plans. Life is ultimately what we make of it, not the good grades students work for in school. These three values will go a long way in their personal and professional growth if we teach them these lessons now.
How will you incorporate these in your daily lesson?