Lessons Learned

We often underestimate how the messages we share at school will impact our students either immediately or in the future. Today, as we were facilitating our Virtual Assembly, highlighting the great work of the Heart and Stroke Association, and explaining how our annual Jump Rope for Heart event was going to be online this year, the following video was embedded in the presentation.

The video highlights the story of Max, a young boy who knew the signs of a stroke and immediately called 911 to get the much-needed assistance to his dad.  Days prior to his dad’s stroke, Max had been at school and attending a Jump Rope for Heart presentation where he learned about FAST (face, arms, speech, and time).  When Max noticed that his dad’s face was lopsided and his speech was slurred, he took the phone and told the operator that his dad was having a stroke.  When the operator questioned how he knew, he proudly shared that he learned it at school.

I loved watching the reaction of the students as they realized that someone, just a few years older than them saved their own father’s life.  I can’t help but wonder if they listened a little more intently when we reviewed the acronym FAST.

Although our lessons may not always literally save a life, we know as educators that they impact lives on a regular basis.  There are stories upon stories of how the words of an educator motivated a student to make a positive choice or helped them see the light, when they were surrounded in darkness.  Lessons learned come in all shapes and sizes.

Can you think of a learning activity that you’ve shared that had a profound impact on a student?

Come write with me…..