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Raising Student Aspirations

Classroom Activities for Grades 6-8
8.5x11
Pages: 122
ISBN: 978-0-87822-481-4
Item Number: 5198

$22.49You save $7.50 (25.01%)

Provides teachers with 72 classroom activities designed to empower and motivate their students’ hopes and dreams. The activities include reading and writing, group discussions, games, stories, role plays, music, art, and more. The authors’ creative and engaging approach is based on solid research and is shaped by eight interrelated conditions:

  1. Belonging
  2. Heroes
  3. Sense of Accomplishment
  4. Fun and Excitement
  5. Curiosity and Creativity
  6. Spirit of Adventure
  7. Leadership and Responsibility
  8. Confidence to Take Action

“What child wouldn’t have fun helping make a class quilt, playing word games, learning how to juggle, decorating the classroom, or making a secret code? They [the activities] are all here, and each has a specific objective to Russ’s mission to mold lifelong aspirations into the character of our students.”

—from the Foreword by Vincent L. Ferrandino, Executive Director, National Association of Elementary School Principals

Book Review

Raising Student Aspirations identifies eight conditions (including belonging, fun, and excitement) that need to be in place in order for students to flourish. The book suggests meaningful activities, interactions, discussions, and schoolwide initiatives to promote each condition.”

Youth Today, The Newspaper on Youth Work

Chapter 1: Belonging

  • Activity 1: A Thousand Words
  • Activity 2: Welcome to Our School
  • Activity 3: Our Class
  • Activity 4: Trust Me
  • Activity 5: Outsiders
  • Activity 6: The Square
  • Activity 7: Laughter
  • Activity 8: Our Assets
  • Challenge Activities for Belonging

Chapter 2: Heroes

  • Activity 1: Our Heroes
  • Activity 2: Be a Hero
  • Activity 3: It’s All in the Bag
  • Activity 4: What’s Inside?
  • Activity 5: Generational Links
  • Activity 6: Famous Quotes
  • Activity 7: What’s in the News?
  • Activity 8: Create a Hero
  • Challenge Activities for Heroes

Chapter 3: Sense of Accomplishment

  • Activity 1: National Anthems
  • Activity 2: Famous People
  • Activity 3: Fly Away
  • Activity 4: My Achievements
  • Activity 5: Good Citizens
  • Activity 6: Get in Shape
  • Activity 7: Play Time
  • Activity 8: School Citizens
  • Challenge Activities for Sense of Accomplishment

Chapter 4: Fun and Excitement

  • Activity 1: Principal’s Turn
  • Activity 2: Country Days
  • Activity 3: Fun with Words
  • Activity 4: Balloons
  • Activity 5: Music Video
  • Activity 6: Fun with Modeling Clay
  • Activity 7: Go Fly a Kite
  • Activity 8: Story Creation
  • Challenge Activities for Fun and Excitement

Chapter 5: Curiosity and Creativity

  • Activity 1: Mystery Picture
  • Activity 2: What’s in a Name?
  • Activity 3: What’s in the Bag?
  • Activity 4: Cultural Exploration
  • Activity 5: Unusual Stories
  • Activity 6: Historical Characters
  • Activity 7: Words to Music
  • Activity 8: Questions and Answers
  • Challenge Activities for Curiosity and Creativity

Chapter 6: Spirit of Adventure

  • Activity 1: Goal Setting
  • Activity 2: Ideal Job
  • Activity 3: Healthy Risk Taking
  • Activity 4: Student Report Cards
  • Activity 5: Magic Tricks
  • Activity 6: Teach the Class
  • Activity 7: Learn Something New
  • Activity 8: Understanding Your Challenges
  • Challenge Activities for Spirit of Adventure

Chapter 7: Leadership and Responsibility

  • Activity 1: The Art of Negotiation
  • Activity 2: Building Debating Skills
  • Activity 3: The Needs of Others
  • Activity 4: The New Student Council
  • Activity 5: What Do I Stand For?
  • Activity 6: Listen Closely
  • Activity 7: Planning
  • Activity 8: The Art of Working Together
  • Challenge Activities for Leadership and Responsibility

Chapter 8: Confidence to Take Action

  • Activity 1: My Portfolio
  • Activity 2: Parental Input
  • Activity 3: My Vision
  • Activity 4: Thinking on Your Feet
  • Activity 5: Confidence Cards
  • Activity 6: Describe Me
  • Activity 7: My Cause
  • Activity 8: Student Interviews
  • Challenge Activities for Confidence to Take Action
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