The last day or week of a college success course can the
most rewarding week for students as well as faculty. It is a way to reflect on the course and
apply what has been learned in the future.
Here are some suggestions for
activities to end your course on a positive note. Since you probably won’t have time to do all
these activities, choose the ones that match your teaching style and are
appropriate for the students in your course.
1. Intentions for the future
Have students look over the table of contents of their textbook and think about what they have learned and how they will put the information into practice. Have them write ten intention statements about what they have learned in this course and how they will use the material to be successful. Have students share their intention statements with groups or the entire class. I intend to . . .
Have students look over the table of contents of their textbook and think about what they have learned and how they will put the information into practice. Have them write ten intention statements about what they have learned in this course and how they will use the material to be successful. Have students share their intention statements with groups or the entire class. I intend to . . .
2. Visualize your success
To be successful, students need a clear
mental picture of what success means to them.
On one sheet of paper, challenge students to make a picture of what
success means to them. Ask students to
include education, career, family life, lifestyle, finances, and anything else
important to them. Students can use a
drawing, mind map, list, outline or sentences to describe their picture of
success. This can be done as a homework
assignment or an in class activity. Have
students share their pictures with the class.
3.
Happiness is . . . .
On one sheet of paper, have students list
or draw the small or big things that make them happy. Challenge students to finish this activity in
5 minutes. Share the pictures with the
class.
Share this quote from Joseph Addison:
Three grand essentials to happiness in this
life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
4.
Three wishes
Ask students to pretend that they are on
the beach and find a bottle. A genie
pops out and says that they can have three wishes. Here are the requirements for the wishes:
You cannot wish for more wishes.
The wishes are for yourself.
The wishes should be realistic ones that actually
can be accomplished.
Ask students to write down their three
wishes. Then ask students to volunteer
to share their wishes. Then tell
students you would like them to change the wishes into affirmations.
Review the guidelines for writing an
affirmation:
The statement should be positive.
The statement should be written in the
present tense.
The statement should begin with “I.”
An affirmation can be made stronger by
adding an emotion (how you feel when it is accomplished.)
As an example, mention some of your wishes
and how you have changed them into affirmations.
Example:
I wish for good health.
Affirmation: I enjoy having good health.
You can take the exercise one step further
by asking students to list a beginning step to accomplishing their affirmation.
Example: I make exercise a priority each
day.
5.
Traits that lead to success
Have students brainstorm 8-10 traits that
they believe would make a person successful.
This can be done individually or in groups. Follow up the activity with the 3 minute
video by Richard St. John, “Eight Traits that Lead to Success” which is based
on over 500 interviews in which he gathered words of wisdom from successful
people. This is a TED talk available at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/70
6.
Write a letter
As part of the final exam, have students
write a letter to students who will enroll in this course next semester. The topic is “How to Be Successful in This
Course.” Use these letters for group
discussion during the first week of your class next semester.
Another variation is to have students write
a letter to themselves on the last day of class. The letter should be about how they will use
the information learned in this class to be successful in the future. You can include their exercises on
visualizing success, happiness, affirmations or intentions for the future. Remember to bring envelopes to class and have
students address the envelopes and include their letters and exercises. Then all you have to do is drop these letters
in the campus mail at the beginning of next semester.
7. Diversity
Potluck
On the last day, ask students to bring food
that represents their ethnicity or other individual differences. Do a sign up list in advance. For students who don’t know what to bring,
assign them to bring water or utensils.
(At our college we have many Middle Eastern and Mexican students, so the
food is always interesting and students enjoy the activity.)
Videos
See my list of videos on the above topics at my
website:
You can find additional activities and
handouts at my website:
Click on Thinking Positively about the Future
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If you have additional end of semester
activities you would like to share, add them to the comments at the end of this
blog or send them to me at marsha@marshafralick.com
Have a great ending to your semester!
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