Student Advisory Activity
9th Grade
Topic: Characteristics of effective learners: Persistence
Time Required: 30 minutes each.
Outcome: Students will become familiar with the characteristics of effective learners, evaluate themselves, identify ways in which they demonstrate the characteristics, and identify ways in which they can improve.
Quotes:
“Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.” Unknown
"It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop."Confucius
“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal: my strength lies solely in my tenacity.” Louis Pasteur
Background: All students have the capacity to be successful. What varies amongst students are the habits that will help them to maximize their potential. These habits are not innate and can be taught, practiced, and internalized. The habits of success can be taught and reinforced in any class. By spending a small amount of time teaching these habits on the front end, teachers can see significant payback in terms of student engagement, behavior, and success.
Procedure:
1. Have students write down a word phrase that tells what the word persistence means. After each student is done, have them come write their synonyms, definitions, or related words on the board under the word Persistence. (This practice will enhance student fluency and vocabulary development and can be used in all subject areas. It allows students to relate new words or ideas to prior knowledge and experiences.)
2. Have students identify a time when they stuck with a difficult task until they completed it to their satisfaction. Make a graphic organizer that includes the strategies they used to complete the task (see the attached example). Use general language in the graphic organizer that could apply to any challenge.
3. Questions: Why is it important to have the habit of persistence? How can having this habit help you? How might not having this habit cause you problems?
4. Writing prompt: How are you currently at this habit? Do you give up easily in school or do you keep trying? Do you have a wide range of strategies to help you with challenges in school? What are they? How do you determine when you have tried “hard enough”? How can you practice the different strategies your classmates shared today?