I KNOW I CAN WINNING BEHAVIORS: LESSON 4 Quick Reference Abstract: Students explore how words of encouragement and positive self talk are essential to maintaining a growth mindset. They warm up making text to self connections with a popular song. The mini lesson deepens student’s text analysis to making text to text connections during a facilitated discussion about another popular song. In the workshop, students write an ‘ACT personal mission statement’ that reflects how they will work to change their perspective about the area in which they have the strongest fixed mindset. The session closes with a check out of a passage from each student’ ACT mission statement. CCSS: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2 SEL IL State Standards: Students Will Be Able To: 1B.5a. Implement a plan to build on a strength, Make a text to self and text to text connections meet a need, or address a challenge. Analyze popular music with the lens of the 1C.4a. Identify strategies to make use of resources Growth Mindset and overcome obstacles to achieve goals. Write a personal ACT mission statement to 1C.5a. Set a post-secondary goal with action steps, cultivate and maintain a Growth Mindset timeframes, and criteria for evaluating achievement. Essential Question of the Day: How do I use knowledge about my personal qualities, attitudes, interests, and skills to be more successful? Materials: Preparation: I Know I Can/ One Moment in Time* Ensure the projector, speakers, and the (1/student, double sided-) following website or Umoja Course Companion ACT Mission Statement (1/student) DVD is functioning: Computer, Projector & speakers or Umoja o http://vimeo.com/10811689 Course Companion DVD and TV o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cFFjV LkmRg *Source: Nas. "I Know I Can." God’s Son. Lyrics. Ill Source audio version of songs if the A/V doesn’t Will Records. 2002. work *Source: Houston, Whitney. “One Moment in Time.” 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time. Lyrics. Arista Records. 1988. Step-by-Step Procedures 42 Min Warm Up I Know I Can 10 Min 1) Share the objectives of the lesson with students (see SWBATs above). Ask students if they need clarification. 2) Hand students the I Know I Can/One Moment in Time. Have them refer to the “I know I can” side. Facilitator’s Note: As you read through Nas’s lyrics, some concepts may seem offensive to you or shocking. Playing this song does not mean we are endorsing all of Nas’s language or perspective as educators. However we do feel it is important to give students material that is both accessible to them and that they 11th Grade Winning Behaviors ● www.umojacorporation.org can relate to and to encourage them to thoughtfully reflect on Nas’s experiences and how he has viewed the world. There are drug references, but it is clear in the lyrics that he is encouraging young men and women to not give into these substance “culture”, and strive for different goals. 3) Give students a brief background on Nas: o Nas is an American rapper and actor. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, he was born and raised in the Queensbridge housing projects in New York City. He was quickly named one of New York’s leading rap voices. Nas’ outspoken, self-empowered demeanor rallied the streets of his city and elsewhere. o In this song, Nas is reflecting on the past, critiquing harmful cycles that are present today, and trying to influence young people to think about what they want to be. 4) Go to this site and show students the video of the Nas song: http://vimeo.com/10811689 Facilitator’s Note: If you do not have A/V resources, students can go around a circle and have each read a line from the lyrics. 5) Facilitate a brief discussion using some or all of the questions below. The objective of the discussion is for students to make a text to self connection. What surprised you about this song; even if you have it before, what sticks out? What is the main message? What are some lines that make you say that? Facilitator’s Note: Refer especially to the portions printed in bold type. Do you believe, as Nas says, that “You can be anything in the world” and “if you believe, you can achieve”? How does this belief connect to what we learned in our last session about the Growth Mindset?” How does this message personally connect to you and your life? Mini Making Connections 10 Min Lesson 1) Explain: “When we believe in a Growth Mindset, we notice our thoughts begin to change. But we also know that even if we don’t completely believe in a Growth Mindset, through meta cognitive reflection, we can work to change our thoughts from the outside, like using the slogans we see around the room that we created in our last session.” Facilitator’s Note: Reference Mindset & Meta Cognition from lesson #1. 2) Explain: “Using meta cognition, we can train our minds to think growth- minded thoughts which studies show is a habit of mind that promotes lifelong learning and self improvement. Turn over I Know I Can to One Moment in Time on the back. As we listen to this song, consider the connection between thinking with a Growth Mindset and lifelong self improvement.” 3) Go to this site and show students the video of the Houston song of Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time” and have students follow along with their lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cFFjVLkmRg (begins at ~0:50) Facilitator’s Note: If you do not have A/V resources, students can go around a circle and have each read a line from the lyrics. 4) Facilitate a brief discussion using some or all of the questions below. The 11th Grade Winning Behaviors ● www.umojacorporation.org objective of the discussion is for students to make a text to text connection. What lines are most powerful to you? What are some of the values that Whitney’s song communicates to the listener? Are they similar to Nas? What are some of the obstacles mentioned in either song? How would either artist advise you to overcome these obstacles? You can quote lyrics or give us your interpretation. According to these songs, what is the connection between a Growth Mindset (believing you can) and lifelong self improvement? What is the connection between this idea and the obstacles we might face in achieving our personal best on the ACT? What can we do to overcome these obstacles? How important are words of encouragement in the process of overcoming obstacles? Do you give encouragement to other people often? How often do you encourage yourself? Workshop Personal Mission Statement 15 Min 1) Explain: “You are now going to take these thoughts and create a personal mission statement. A personal mission statement guides how one makes decisions about their life, and gives you purpose and direction to reach those decisions. Thinking about the idea of fixed versus growth mindset that we have covered in the last couple of sessions, you are going to construct your mission on how to change an area where you have the strongest fixed mindset.” 2) Hand each student ACT Mission Statement and begin by reading the quotations at the top of the page. Encourage students to think carefully about how they will craft their mission statements, and clarify any questions. Closing Final Statement 7 Min 1) Have students form a circle. 2) Explain: “To wrap-up, each member of our group will have the opportunity to share one POWERFUL line from their personal statement. As you read over your personal statement, choose one line that will inspire others to achieve their personal best.” 11th Grade Winning Behaviors ● www.umojacorporation.org I KNOW I CAN (BE WHAT I WANNA BE) By Nas I know I can, Beggin' different women for a Be what I wanna be, place to sleep at night, If I work hard at it, Smart boys turn to men and do I'll be where I wanna be whatever they wish If you believe you can achieve, B, B boys and girls listen up, you can be anything in then say it like this the world In god we trust, an architect, doctor, maybe an I know I can, actress Be what I wanna be, But nothin' comes easy it takes much practice, If I work hard at it, Like I met a woman who was becoming a star, I'll be where I wanna be She was very beautiful leaving people in awe Singin' songs Lena Horne, but the younger version, B before we came to this country, Hung wit' the wrong person, got her stunger than We were kings and queens-never porch monkeys Irwin, There was empires in Africa called Kush, Cocaine sniffin’ up drugs all in her nose, Timbuktu, where every race came to get books to Could've died so young, now looks ugly and old, learn from black teachers No fun cuz now when she reaches for hugs Who taught Greeks and Romans, Asians, Arabs, and People hold their breath cuz she smells of corrosion gave them gold and death, When gold was converted to money it all changed Watch the company you keep, and the crowd you Money then became empowerment for Europeans, bring, The Persian military invaded Cuz they came to do drugs and you came to sing, They heard about the gold, the teachings and So if you gonna be the best imma tell you how, everything sacred Put your hands in the air and take the vow Africa was almost robbed naked, Slavery was money, so they began making slave- I know I can, ships Be what I wanna be, Egypt was the place that Alexander the great went If I work hard at it, He was in shock that in the mountains were black I'll be where I wanna be faces Shot off their nose to impose what basically B, B boys and girls listen again Still goes on today you see This is for grown looking girls who's only ten, If the truth is told the youth can grow, The ones who watch videos and