My dad was a high school football coach and the town's physical education director. He was an amazing man who taught many things to many people. Most of all, he taught me the importance of being passionate about some things.
Everyone needs to be passionate about something. Having passions and hobbies benefit us in many ways:
- Stress Relief: Engaging in activities you love helps relieve stress and provides a mental break from daily responsibilities. Hobbies like painting, gardening, or playing sports can be calming and therapeutic.
- Personal Growth: Hobbies allow you to learn new skills, challenge yourself, and grow as an individual. They can also build self-confidence as you achieve milestones or improve at something.
- Creativity and Expression: Passions give people an outlet to express their creativity. Whether it's through music, art, or crafting, they provide a way to communicate emotions and ideas that might be difficult to express otherwise.
- Sense of Purpose and Fulfillment: Being passionate about something gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It helps you feel accomplished and motivates you to pursue personal goals.
- Improved Mental Health: Many studies show that people who actively engage in hobbies and passions are more likely to experience higher levels of happiness and mental well-being. Hobbies provide joy, distraction, and a sense of achievement.
Many of us are passionate about many things! It's lovely when one of our passions is also our chosen career, but in most cases, our passions won't pay the bills. As teachers, we are probably passionate about teaching. (Why else would we do it?) But I'll bet most of us aren't passionate about everything to do with the job. Plus, I'm sure there are plenty of other passions among us.
Our students need to develop passions and hobbies for the exact same reasons. I'm sure you're already seeing some of these passions appearing in your classroom!
We all know those kids who are passionate about sports:
Not only are many little ones participating in many of these sports, but many also enjoy watching them! Despite my dad being a football coach, I've never been a big football fan, but I sure do love watching the Red Sox!
If you have any sports fans in your classroom, try some of these sports-related skill-building games:
I'm pretty sure you know which kids in your class are passionate about visual arts!
There may be a few who haven't figured out what they're passionate about yet. As teachers (and parents), it's up to us to expose them to many things so they can begin to develop their own passions.
The performing arts are my personal passion! I'm a big musical theater fan and love a good song and dance! Yes, I can sing, act, and even tap dance!
Many students, particularly some of the shy ones, seem to come alive when performing! These kiddos really benefit from group songs, reader's theater, and presenting research or sharing in front of the class.
Who doesn't love exercise?
Even though I'm not athletic, I love many forms of exercise, and I'm sure your students do, too!
As teachers, we hope your students develop a passion for reading, but this isn't always true.
We can help them learn to enjoy reading by directing them toward different kinds of reading.
Writing can also be a passion for many people. (As a blogger, you probably know that I'm a fan of writing!))
Sometimes just offering a different kind of writing helps them learn to enjoy writing!
If you're looking for more ideas for writing in the classroom, try some of these:
I'll bet you know plenty of people with a passion for cooking!
Although cooking isn't typically part of the classroom curriculum, it's a wonderful experience for many children in so many ways! For one thing, most recipes include math and reading directions. Plus, it's a life skill! Cooking has its own reward: you get to eat what you make!
There are many rewards in gardening. My dad (the football coach) often came home from coaching a game and would find solace in his garden.
Children LOVE gardening; some of those little ones have "green thumbs!" Growing a garden can be very educational and bring great joy.
Most kids LOVE animals. I think I've had one or two students who were passionate about horses in every class I've had. My sister was one of these, and we both went to horseback riding lessons frequently. To this day, she still owns horses.
After a couple of months of school, you can probably name the pets of most of your students, right?
Who doesn't love nature? There are several benefits to being outside in nature, including improved mental health, improved memory, improved sleep, and even boosting Vitamin D levels!
Here are a couple of articles about the benefits of nature:
In other words, get those kiddos outside!
In case you're interested, here are a couple of posts I've written about my dad:
I'm sure you recognize many of your students in the passions and hobbies I've listed, but I hope you also recognize some of your own passions. Plus, these lists are only the beginning!
What are your passions?
