Purpose

Recently, we've been working on our classroom purpose. It will help us to make decisions related to learning as we progress through the school year.

I think this story I'm sharing with you today really helps us to understand purpose. It's essential to have some purpose in everything we do. If you don't have a purpose, why are you doing it? Do you have autonomy without purpose? Are you even able to gain mastery without it?

Dipsea is a race that helps us to understand that purpose is important. Why? Well, nobody in their right mind would do it unless they have some sense of purpose to help them finish. Dipsea is a race that covers 7.4 miles. It's the oldest trail race in the US. Dipsea is not the most difficult running race in the world; however, it is treacherous and very challenging. Many racers have become injured while racing on the course which starts at sea level and rises to 1360 feet and descends back to sea level. Different points along the course have telling names like Cardiac, Insult Hill and Dynamite.

At this point, ask yourself "Would you enter this race? Why? Why not?

Read the story about Dipsea from Runners World Magazine. Next, read and listen to the 2010 race recap with Reilly Johnson.

What does this make you think about purpose? How does this relate to our classroom purpose?

Just do it!

This morning students came to a consensus on where they stand in terms of a fitness issue. The Consensogram tool, by David Langford, was used to help measure their interest. Kids vote in 10 % intervals on a scale that goes from arange of 0-100%. They vote according to how they feel about a statement that I present. First, I asked kids how fitness might impact them as ind

ividuals. Elizabeth said, "It would give us more energy." Together we agreed that we'd be much healthier. Also, we made connections that it may help us to perform better in events like Cheetah Club, 5th Grade Olympics and even classroom activities. Below is a picture of the results of how much students agreed with the statement,

"To what extent would you be interested in starting a fitness routine as part of our regular classroom schedule?"

Tomorrow we will begin to brainstorm what we'd like to work to improve in terms of our fitness. Stay tuned.