Kudos!

“What’s a Kudos?” one student asked as they pulled a “Kudos” card out of their mailbox. As I had mentioned in a previous post about strengths, the Impact Learning Center is using Gallup’s StrengthsExplorer for the students. Each student is given their top three strengths. To learn more about StrengthsExplorer visit the website at www.strengthsexplorer.com.

Once anyone learns what they are gifted in, it is a waste for them not to use it. That is why we want to encourage and educate students on their strengths and how to use them effectively.

Strengths are something that each person has and affects their thoughts and actions, so it is inevitable that we use our strengths daily. “Kudos” are a way to catch kids using their strengths and encouraging them to continue doing that. Once they realize their strength and realize how they can use it with their actions. That is when they will make an impact.

A good example comes from staff member’s James’s journal about third grader Tabitha whose strengths are Dependability, Caring, and Confidence.

Today, we played soccer for Rec Time and one student in particular, Tabitha, exuded an amazing quality. Usually, when students play sports they want to be the star, the go-to-player. As we have been in the program for a few months now, I have seen students take the ball from each other in order to score a goal or make a basket. In fact, we have had to stop Rec Time before because students have been too rowdy, too selfish, or too spiteful. Today, however, Tabitha continually offered to let another student kick the ball or throw it in from out of bounds. This happened at least four times! I was so impressed by her unselfishness that I wrote her a ”Kudos" because of her inclusiveness during the game. I know that because of her actions, other students will change their attitudes and actions when they play sports with each other.