EFFORT

OK, my brain goes off on tangents sometimes, and I guess this last week has been one of them, so bare with me! 

I just completed an online course today about effort.  Providing students specific feedback about their effort can increase academic achievement.  This reiterated a presenter I heard a month ago speaking that recognizing students' specific effort can increase their academic achievement by 30 percentile gains--that's HUGE!  So, that got me thinking about effort.  Here are my "effort" thoughts that I've seen become a reality over the past few weeks:

~When you receive a grade lower than you want, it takes EFFORT to bring that grade up to the desired standard--Take that PoliSci and Geometry!
~Going to the cages night after night, takes EFFORT to increase the power of hitting--but the pay-off is huge!
~Trying to come up with a menu and grocery list each week requires EFFORT, unfortunately I'm not giving enough effort in that area.  Still can't figure out why I'm struggling so much with that this year!
~Working with the most challenging children who "push their teacher's buttons" takes EFFORT, but it is so rewarding when I see the changes being made!
~Thinking about the holidays ahead and NOT getting stressed about it requires EFFORT, but it'll all be good!  It always is!
~Riding with the newest driver in the house and biting my tongue requires EFFORT--that's why it's still Kev's task mainly!

So, where will I challenge my effort this week?  Maybe try to blog more than once a month, try for at least 3 "real, home-cooked meals", recognize at least 5 staff members for their efforts,  try to make Kev's last football game (missed everyone this year), giving equal or more effort to my family as I do at work.  Think I'll be busy!