Aspirations

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The Guiding Principles, in turn, are lived out through the 8 Conditions that emphasizerelationships, active and engaging teaching and learning, and a sense of responsibility over one's own aims and goals.

The 8 Conditions are: Belonging, Heroes, Sense of Accomplishment, Fun & Excitement, Curiosity & Creativity, Spirit of Adventure, Leadership & Responsibility, and Confidence to Take Action

The 8 Conditions make a difference because they help schools putinto practice the three principles that guide Aspirations work.

Developing Students’ Self-Worth:Belonging, Heroes, and Sense of Accomplishment Self-Worth begins when students experience a sense of Belonging: They feel like they are part ofthe school community while being recognized and appreciated for their uniqueness. Studentsalso experience Self-Worth when someone in their lives believes in them. They need Heroes:people they can look up to, respect, and learn from. To develop Self-Worth, students also needa Sense of Accomplishment. They must be recognized as much for their effort, perseverance,and citizenship as they are for high grades and good test scores. As students build Self-Worth,they are more likely to persevere through difficult tasks and be inspired to take the stepsneeded to reach their goals.

Fostering Students’ Engagement in Learning:Fun & Excitement, Curiosity & Creativity, and Spirit of Adventure. Engagement means that students are emotionally, intellectually, and behaviorally engaged intheir learning. Emotionally engaged students experience Fun & Excitement by becoming soinvolved that they almost lose track of time. At the end of the lesson, they wonder, “Where didthat time go?” Intellectually engaged students are not afraid to ask “Why?” or “Why not?” aboutthe world around them. Curiosity & Creativity are alive in the way they learn, fosteringinquisitiveness and a desire to satisfy their minds with new discoveries. Behaviorally engagedstudents have a Spirit of Adventure. They are not afraid to try new things, or to take on healthychallenges, regardless of whether they might succeed or fail. With Engagement, learningbecomes important in and of itself.

Encouraging a Sense of Purpose:Leadership & Responsibility and Confidence to Take Action Schools must challenge students to think about their Purpose—who they want to becomeas well as what they want to be. To reach this goal, students need to explore what it meansto have, and create, a successful and rewarding life. Purpose is about being responsible,accountable, and confident. To develop Purpose, students need the opportunity to assumeLeadership & Responsibility in their lives. They must learn to make decisions and understandthe consequences of their choices. When students have Purpose, they have the Confidenceto Take Action toward a meaningful, productive, and rewarding future. They believe inthemselves and are motivated to reach their dreams.