These activities made me amp up the usage of one of my favorite quotes. I love it when Ms. Frizzle (from the Magic School Bus) says, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.” I use this quote most often when I see students refusing to do something that is hard and/or new to them. Only ever doing what is comfortable and easy does not allow for growth.
Learning a new skill set (like ice-skating) can be scary for some students. We are not looking for anyone to become the next Michelle Kwan or Wayne Gretzky. We are instead hoping they will learn the important skill of perseverance. This was the first time many of our students had ice skated and their proud faces when they caught on to the concept, were priceless.
It is important to us at St. Paul’s that our students are well-rounded individuals. In order to be prepared for any situation, it means that our students must push themselves out of their comfort zones. Each year for Winter Fitness we pick one new fitness activity to try. For some this activity may be old hat and for others it is an opportunity to try something new.
Growing and learning when things may be new or difficult, whether it's a new sport, or the pursuit of a new concept in the classroom, is the best way to “take chances, make mistakes, get messy.”
