When you have to wait in life write down the lessons your learning.

Journal your Journey! Chart and Stay the course!           Gene Bedley

                                                                                                                                        R.I.S.E. Journal for Middle School Kids

The vast majority of people do not write down their life’s journey and the lessons learned. (Lessons of Life) The value of taking the time to write down the lessons of various experiences can teach and awaken us to new insight, understanding and even prevent us from making the all too familiar mistakes we seek to avoid! Most of us want to practice the things that work and avoid the things that don’t work!

In the poem I wrote “Focus on the Lesson” https://ethicsusa.org/focus-on-the-lesson-2/ I described many of the payoffs of taking the time to let each lesson teach us something in strengthening our character.

Focus on the lesson not the pain that comes your way,

Focus on the lesson there is one to learn each day.           Gene Bedley

My son Scott Bedley a fifth grade teacher in Irvine California has implemented another model to capture his students learning on a glass window located in his classroom. He invites student to write with a white liquid chalk marker “What I Now Know” As each learner is awakened to a new discovery, students journal their learning on the window.

One of the more popular books with teachers that I’ve written where I identified 52 of the most important lessons you teach your children. Character Lessons for Life.

Character Lessons for Life – https://ethicsusa.org/shop/character-lessons-for-life/

I wrote the book targeted for pre-teens and teens who are predominately activity driven to challenge them through the lessons to become value driven. I recently heard about a school that is training their middle school students in an advisement program to have students share with fellow students different lessons they have learned in their life’s journey.

The good news is there is now available to schools a program titled Ambassadors of Compassion R.I.S.E. a 12 week journey that’s taken with other teens guided by a trained mentor team coach. I’ve discovered that the 44 Call to Action on Responsibility, Initiative, Service, and Expectations in the program has helped a lot of kids from drifting through life aimlessly, wondering why their life lacks purpose and significance.   If the resiliency research included in the AOC journey continues to reveal significant results then we need to find a way to include many more students in this life changing adventure!  www.aoclife.org

Gene Bedley, PTA National Outstanding Educator of the year