I don't normally post here unless I'm answering another post
but I had a great idea today and I wanted to share it.

In my classroom, I try and come up with metaphors on a
weekly basis that I can use to motivate and inspire my
students. I normally pick a metaphor that will work toward
improving a particular problem we are having at the time.
If I use a metaphor one day, I may spend as long as 15
minutes on it. From that point, all I need to do is mention
the name of the metaphor to bring the entire idea back into
their minds. I'm always looking for a new metaphor that
will work to give students a reason to behave or inspire
them to work harder. I have a million of them that I use
but the one I came across today appears to be a real winner.

There's a book by Tom Rath called, How Full's Your Bucket.
The idea for Monday classes goes like this.

“How full is your bucket?”

The metaphor of the bucket and the dipper.

Everyone carries around a metaphorical bucket which
represents how you feel from moment to moment. You also
have a dipper that you use to fill or empty you bucket.

When your bucket is full, you feel great. You’re the life
of the party. You feel good about yourself and you are
helpful to others. People like you and success is all
around you.

When your bucket is empty, you feel the opposite. You feel
horrible and seem to have trouble everywhere you go.

Along with your bucket, you also carry around a dipper. The
dipper is your ability to fill the bucket or empty the
bucket. The positive things you do in life fill your bucket
and the negative things you do take away from your bucket.
You have the choice between the two actions.

Every interaction you have in life will either fill your
bucket or take away from your bucket. You also have the
ability to add or take away from another person's bucket.

My question for the students Monday will be this: How will
your actions today in this class contribute or take away
from your bucket?

Steve

Superior Education

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