# 47 Projects Which Motivate

# 47 Projects Which Motivate

by

Vernon M. Herron

Most public school systems are experiencing a life/death struggle for its daily existence. Never-before have challenges been so pronounced: budget cutting, teacher lay-off, curriculum curtailment, school mergers, transportation problems, poverty related districts and student motivation, etc. to name a few.

Private schools are growing by leaps and bounds mainly because of a focus on ‘student motivation.’ This blog posting is written to show how two independent educational projects are designed to motivate students within the public school systems. They are the Going FOURword: Using Four-Letter Words in a positive way, and Jonathan Stewart: Playing the Field or the Piano.

Going FOURword  is a  motivational strategy conceived and used by school teacher Thornton Howard, III which uses over 1600 Four-Letter Words in a positive way. This strategy seeks to help elementary and middle-scholars think positively and act responsibly to achieve academic success. Going FOURword is a phrase used to describe the attitude and actions of anyone using a four letter word in a positive way.

The going FOURword- workbook is designed to help engage students in dialogue and activities to increase their self-esteem, and to help develop plan for accomplishing their goals. This work book is divided into four sections called Success Routs: Self Esteem, Goal Achievement, Peer Power and Helping Others.

A simple way to engage youth or anyone is through the use of four letters-words (the good ones,) words like able, best, good, and team, etc. These words are to be used for class or family discussion and for individual student empowerment.

  Going FOURword is a project that motivates.

 

The second project worthy of our attention which motivates is:

Jonathan Stewart: Playing the Field…and the Piano. Jonathan Stewart has become the poster picture for the Carolina Panthers Football Team where he plays a running back position. He was a hero for the Panthers 2009 season. Jonathan ran more yards than any other player. He and DeAngelo are considered the most powerful running back duo in the NFL.

Last year, Jonathan injured his ankle, had surgery and was inactive for the season. Today, he has recovered and plays football better than ever.

Jonathan now encourages males students to play sports and the piano as he does. He was recruited by Mrs. Geraldine Daniel, owner and director of Genies Christian Academy of music. Her male students were losing interest in piano education. They just wanted to play sports. They conceived that playing the piano just was not “cool.” But Stewart encouraged the boys to play sports and the piano. As a model, Stewart plays the piano sometimes before a big game for relaxation; before excited groups of students and parents for motivation.

Mrs. Geraldine Daniel, a Charlotte musician graduated from West Charlotte High School, Howard University, Manhattan School of Music and Queen University.

The Gerrie Christian Academy of Music is growing with the help of Jonathan Stewart and that is MOTIVATION.

   

 JONATHAN STEWART PLAYING THE PIANO

AT THE GERRIE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF MUSIC

                         

  JONATHAN STEWART ENCOURAGING MALE STUDENTS

TO PLAY SPORTS AND THE PIANO

 

JONATHAN STEWART AND GERALDINE DANIEL,

ACADEMY OWNER AND DIRECTOR