It was at this point I realized the importance of positive self-image or identity.

It was very difficult to move that student further a change in their self-image.

As a science teacher, I told my students that my challenge each year was to convince them that they were all scientists. Not necessarily all professional scientists, but scientifically literate citizens. After all, they were all knowers…

Science (definition from Webster's Dictionary) Middle English (denoting knowledge): from Old French, from Latin scientia, from scire ‘to know.’

How Do We Know?

I would remind them of experiments that they ran as children playing with their food, teasing their younger (or older) sibling. They already thought scientifically. We were just going to get better at that this school year. That was after all, the last strand of K12 Benchmarks and National Standards, to produce a citizenry that was scientifically literate meant to be comfortable thinking scientifically. That was to become a part of their core identity. Just as I thought of myself as a surfer, I wanted them to come to a place where they owned the notion of being scientists. I never competed in surf contests or had companies sponsor me… I was not an outstanding surfer, but I was very comfortable in the water and on the board. I even was willing to paddle out on days that were double overhead. I wanted my students to feel comfortable with science lingo, not be afraid to evaluate the veracity of a science study, and problem solve using the scientific method even for things that were not necessarily sciency problems.

Identity is so important. How you react to challenges depends a lot on how you see yourself. And the Strengths Movement gives us an handle on the positive character attributes that reside in everyone to some degree.

This is why I so love the Strengths Movement: Identity is so important.

• How you react to challenges depends a lot on how you see yourself.
• The Strengths Movement gives us a handle on the positive character attributes that reside in everyone to some degree.
• It teaches diversity-not everyone is the same-that's ok.
• It is focused on the positive – everyone has a top 5 and they are POSITIVE Strengths.
• Through the diversity of top 5 strengths it helps educators differentiate.
• collaboration
• It gives students tools or handles on what they can contribute in group projects or team learning in any subject area.
• strengths-training a supports the various current buzzwords or popular approaches to learning: Mindset, Challenge-Based Learning, Collaborative Learning, Learning Styles, Differentiation, MakersSpace, etc.

In my classroom the following activity preceded students building their brand logo. This is a great beginning of the year activity that allowed me to get to know my students better.