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Showing posts with label passionate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label passionate. Show all posts

Follow your passions!

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! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?


Everyone needs to be passionate about something. Having passions and hobbies benefit us in many ways:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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:

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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!

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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!

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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? 

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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. 

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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!))

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?
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!
Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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.

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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.

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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!

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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:

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?

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?


Everyone needs to be passionate about something! These passions and hobbies help us through life. How many of these passions do your students have?





Speaking of Heroes

I had the most incredible morning. The town where I grew up dedicated a road in the name of my dad. 

Speaking of Heroes: My dad was honored in the town where he was a successful high school football coach. Here's a recount of that incredible day!


My dad was a legendary football coach and physical education director in my hometown. He not only coached many successful seasons, but he also established a sports program in the town that has been in place since 1953. 

Speaking of Heroes: My dad was honored in the town where he was a successful high school football coach. Here's a recount of that incredible day!As I walked from my car to the spot for the ceremony, I noticed several sports teams playing on different parts of the field, cheerleaders stretching in preparation for the upcoming game, and an impromptu basketball game. Signs and banners were rooting for the home team. 

I realized this scene was very similar to what I would have seen 40 years ago when I was one of those cheerleaders stretching in preparation for the game. This was the program my dad established many years ago. 
Speaking of Heroes: My dad was honored in the town where he was a successful high school football coach. Here's a recount of that incredible day!
Several people spoke about the strong influence he had on the town's sports program and quoted his incredible record. Former players and colleagues spoke of how he had with his football players and called him a great motivator. He indeed coached the kids on and off the field. One of his favorite sayings came out today:  "I can, and I will!"

Speaking of Heroes: My dad was honored in the town where he was a successful high school football coach. Here's a recount of that incredible day!The program ended with my brother unveiling the new street sign.  We all posed for pictures under the sign, and talked to people we hadn't seen in a very long time.  Somehow I managed to keep from crying during the ceremony, but I did shed a few on the car ride home.

It's hard to believe that I could have a lot in common with a man who coaches football. I have zilch athletic ability, and I prefer to sing, tap dance, or teach small children.

Speaking of Heroes: My dad was honored in the town where he was a successful high school football coach. Here's a recount of that incredible day!But we share a common theme: We would do everything within our power to help young people be the best that they can be. We are both motivators. We are both passionate people who care about kids' success. The man has been gone for nine years, yet he is with me every day. He is my hero.

How appropriate for this weekend, the 10th anniversary of 9-11.  A time to celebrate the heroes in our lives.  We certainly celebrated a hero today!

Who is your hero?

Some links:
Bondelevitch Way Open for Travel

Big Blue Football Continues the Bondelevitch Winning Way

David Bondelevitch's blog: I Can and I Will

David Bondelevitch's blog:  Father's Day


Speaking of Heroes: My dad was honored in the town where he was a successful high school football coach. Here's a recount of that incredible day!

Here's my dad (center) with his staff and captains back in the early 1970s.

Speaking of Heroes: My dad was honored in the town where he was a successful high school football coach. Here's a recount of that incredible day!



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