You can always believe in the magic of yet!
Our elementary school counselors are helping students build resilience and confidence as part of an ongoing perseverance and growth mindset unit. The message: don’t give up! You just haven’t learned to master it…YET!
A recent lesson for many second grade classes centered on the book “The Magical Yet” by author Angela DiTerlizzi. This book encourages students to see challenges not as roadblocks, but as opportunities for growth and learning. (We can all use the encouragement sometimes!)
To bring the concept to life, second grade students in all of the elementary schools completed hands-on activities with pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and other craft materials. With these simple tools, they designed their own “yet pets”— unique visual reminders meant to symbolize determination, patience, and the power of a growth mindset- believing we can achieve, even when things seem difficult!
At Pakanasink Elementary School in Caroline Prydal and Kara Freed’s class, school counseling intern Amanda MacDonald and PAK school counselor Carina Saint Louis facilitated the lesson and craft time. Then the students were offered a “show and tell” time to share the name of their yet pets, and what their yet pets would help remind them to achieve.
Students shared some pretty creative names, and identified a variety of sports, academics, and emotional regulation goals, like staying calm and focused. Their yet pets will remind them to keep trying on all things they can’t do 100%…YET!
