SELF Talk
Social Emotional Learning Foundations Newsletter
Legacy Issue
Issue No. 98 April 8, 2024
Unit 6: Live to Give
Immortality is to live your life doing good things and leaving your mark behind.” ~ Brandon Lee
A legacy is something we leave behind. When we talk about creating a legacy, it means we do something that others will appreciate when we leave. Doctors leave a legacy by saving lives, teachers leave a legacy by sharing a love of learning, and other people leave a legacy every day by spreading kindness and giving to others. We all leave legacies whether we realize it or not. When someone mentions someone after they are no longer in the same place, what is said about that person is the legacy that he/she/they left behind. It’s the impact we had on others, the way we treated each other, the way we conducted ourselves in certain situations, etc.
Not all gifts come in a box. We can give something to others by leaving a legacy, or by passing on something from one person to the next. When we find our passion and focus on our dreams we can create a legacy that will last long after we move on to something new in our lives. We will pass our dreams on to someone else we have inspired. In this week's lesson, students will determine what they want their legacies to be and analyze what steps they can take to make their legacies a reality. They will reflect on what they want people to remember them for when they've moved on to something else or to another place.
7 Mindset Lessons: Create a Legacy
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” ~ Anne Frank
Each lesson includes an engaging slideshow, video, and activity. Click on the link that matches your student's age or grade. You'll find a fun icebreaker, a video lesson, and some discussion questions you can use to invite your student into conversation. There's also an activity to bring the idea alive in your student's life. Have fun connecting and learning how to Create a Legacy!
Grades: 3-5
Grades: Middle School
Grades: High School
Mindset Mondays!
Mindset Mondays are growing! If your student(s) haven't joined yet, come see what it's all about! No sign-ups ups needed; just join at the time for your student(s) age group listed below! Each session is designed to be self-contained and doesn't require students to have attended before...which means your student(s) can join at any time. Mindset Mondays are on all Mondays that school is in session.
I look forward to seeing your students in class as we explore the Live to Give mindset!
You will find the class times below. Classes are arranged by grade levels as follows:
Grades K-3: 10 AM with Kelly McIntosh Zoom link
Grades 4-6: 11 AM with Kelly McIntosh Zoom link
Grades 7-12: 1:15 PM with Kelly McIntosh Zoom link
The lessons are designed to be interactive group lessons; however, because we recognize the importance of students attending comfortably, each student may choose their level of participation in the lesson.
Big Life Journal & 7 Mindset Activities
These Big Life Journal printable activities, purchased by Cottonwood for your students, offer additional opportunities to extend learning as students focus on learning more about becoming aware of their emotions and continuing their exploration of Live to Give!
Big Life Journal Activity: Design a T-Shirt for a Cause!
Grades 6-12 Live to Give 7 Mindset Activity: Leaving the School a Better Place
A Mind Set for Testing
Is your student feeling a little nervous about upcoming CAASPP testing? I'm excited to introduce a fantastic resource designed to help your student get into the perfect mindset for test-taking success. This was presented at our test prep parties and is available for all families at The Cottonwood School.
Say hello to the "A Mind Set for Testing" slideshow! Packed with practical tips, mindfulness exercises, and confidence-boosting strategies, this slideshow is your ultimate companion for conquering exams with ease.
The slideshow is designed to empower your student with the tools they need to approach test-taking with calmness, focus, and positivity. Dive into the slideshow today and unlock the secrets to mastering your student's mindset for test success. This presentation will be included in each SELF Talk for the month of April in the buttons at the bottom of each newsletter.
Mindset Marvel
The Cottonwood School is a 2024 Kindness Certified School! Please share with us any random act of kindness activity your family participates in to Make a Difference! Send your photos to us to celebrate all the kindness that is created!