The Great Discovery and the Person You Go To For Advice

With both classes I discussed the concept of self-discipline, especially around the ability to stay focused on a task. Almost all of the students struggle with this. I told them to try setting a timer for 15 to 20 minutes and trying to stay focused on a task for that long, then take a little break, then come back for another 20 minutes. Students also suggested listening to music and trying to get a certain amount done during a song. They also liked the idea of rewards for their efforts.

The freshmen completed an activity from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" called "The Great Discovery." It asked questions like "If a steel beam (6 inches wide) were placed across two skyscrapers, for what would you be willing to cross?" We shared our answers with each other. We are not quite finished with this activity.

The sophs worked on the 2nd question for their personal statement which is "What living person do you most often go to for support and advice? How would you access support if he or she did not have the knowledge to help you?" Interestingly, 3 of the students said their grandmother. They talked about trust, which I think is a very important issue for our students. Several also talked about their mentors here at Peace and about Peace as a place they come to for support and information.