Intellectual Health is vitally important in creating sustainable health and happiness. It is what pushes us forward, empowers us to learn from adversity, and think critically as we navigate life (and not just intellectually, but also emotionally, physically, and spiritually). As we activate and strengthen Intellectual Health, we are able to create, innovate, and grow in unimaginable ways.
Intellectually Healthy Habits
Understanding Intellectual Health and its value in life is meaningless without action and application. So here are a few healthy habits connected to thriving Intellectual Health.
Cultivate a love for learning and discovery
Possess a growth mindset and hold strong to the truth that you are always cable of doing more
Learn to view challenges and struggles as opportunities for growth
Set S.M.A.R.T. goals and exercising deliberate practice in working towards goals
Live by a standard of taking ownership and responsibility for learning
How can educators and stakeholders influence and impact Intellectual Health*
As educators, I don’t have to tell you how influential (positively and negatively) you are in a student’s life. You have a great power to nurture and strengthen Intellectual Health and total well-being by the culture you choose to create in your classroom. Here are a few ways to integrate an intentional focus of Intellectual Health
Let students take control of their learning and allow creativity and imagination to flourish – i.e. the genius hour and open-ended projects
Instituting “Yes, and!” as a classroom norm
Establishing a common understanding and standard of growth mindset and grit
Teach students how to develop S.M.A.R.T. goals along with corresponding plans of deliberate practice
Creating a routine of self-assessment and regular reflection
*My guess is that you are already doing many of these things in your classroom. If you are, the next step is to connect current practices to a common understanding and language of health and wellness.
Want to learn more?
This post is just the tip of the iceberg. If you are interested in learning more, here are a few resources I found very insightful and educational:
Read: Grit by Angela Duckworth, PhD
Listen: Deliberate Practice, Freakonomics Radio
Watch: Yes, And by Karen Tilstra, PhD
Empower Intellectual Health
Now, you didn’t think I’d tell you all about without giving you some tool for integrating it into your classroom, did you? Here are two teaching resources you can use to strengthen Intellectual Health…
Self Assessment Poster
S.M.A.R.T. PowerPoint
Next time we’ll continue our quest to fully understand each of the components of health and learn how to empower our students to thrive as we discuss Spiritual Health.
