Fall Greetings from Ms. Shari
Our Weekly Word: Positivity
Starting Strong involves making the CHOICE to think positively. Our first SEL (Social Emotional Learning) unit teaches us about the importance of having a growth mindset.
We are learning about how paying attention helps us learn new things, stay safe and show others we care. We are also learning about HOW we learn. Our brain is actually growing and changing every time we learn something new. The network in our brain is rewiring itself so that we can eventually do whatever it is we are practicing... better. We may not be able to do something we are learning well the first time, but with practice, effort and asking for help, we will learn to do new things better.
Positive thinking is pivotal to learning but it is not a natural state of being...especially when we are learning something new. Just like we are developing networks in our brain when we learn something new, we also can develop positive thinking. This doesn’t mean that we deny reality. It does mean that we can CHOOSE to not dwell on the negative. Have a pity party if you need to, but give yourself a time limit and move on.
What or maybe even more importantly HOW we think affects our feelings. How we feel affects our behaviors. And our behaviors affect our thinking.
If we can practice thinking positively and not dwelling on the negative, we can train our brain to look for ways to grow instead of giving up.
Another way to stay positive is to practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude helps us recognize all that we can often take for granted. At the old junior high, there was a phrase often used on the morning announcements. “Have a good day...or not. The choice is yours.” Positive thinking tells us we will make mistakes but as we now often say at SGR, “Mistakes are proof you’re trying!” SO….Practice….Make Mistakes….Learn….and Grow! Look for the good….for what you look for, you will find.
Find the good. Be the good. Practice Positivity.