The students at MPLS celebrated DO YOUR BEST by emphasizing a positive attitude and trying your best at all you do. Students realized that they are not great at everything, but that everyone has strengths and limitations.  Giving your best effort is what is expected of you every day.

Do Your Best Graphic 
  - This drawing of a sloth was made by PLS student Jeff Moravec to accompany the End of the Year Rally.  The sloth was chosen to signify Keeping Going - Don't Give Up.

Lesson Plans

January 1997 Theme

Theme: 

Keep Trying: Don't Give Up

Objective:

Students will identify positive self-talk that will keep them
trying so they won't give up.

Materials:

Notecards
Markers

Procedure:

1. Review with the students the LAWS of active learning from the previous lessons. Refer to the goal setting posters that the class made. Explain that once you've set a goal you have to use self-talk to achieve that goal. Self-talk is the language that you use to talk to yourself. We all talk to ourselves. Sometimes we say good things that keep us going, and sometimes we say discouraging things that make us want to quit. Athletes use this quite a bit to help them perform well. They use self-talk like, "You can get the next shot. Concentrate and be ready." Share your personal experiences with positive and negative self-talk and ask the students to share theirs.
   
   
2. In school we need to use positive self-talk to do well academically and socially. Students need to say things to themselves like:

   I can do this.
   This is going to be easy.
   I'll try my best.
   I've been able to do it before.
   I need to keep at it.

   Add to this list with students' ideas and write them on the board.
   
   

3. Have the students write down one example of positive self-talk that they could use on a notecard. The students can put it inside a speech bubble. Then tape the notecard to their desk, so they can refer to it during the day.
   
   
4. Conclude with having the students share their positive self-talk.