Happy Monday and welcome back from Winter Break! It is good to welcome in a new year and I (Wei) hope that you had a refreshing and relaxing break. Today we head back into the swing of things with our Character Trait for the month of January, Diligence.
Did you know that the word diligence also refers to a stagecoach? It is short for the French carosse de diligence. A diligence was a large, four-wheeled, closed French stagecoach that was often used for long journeys. It was popular in both France and England in the 18th and 19th centuries. (Curious to learn more? – check out this article.)
So what is diligence (other than a fancy mode of transportation)?
Diligence: Committing to doing tasks with excellence and persevering with determination and patience to complete tasks in spite of difficulties and discouragement.
Catch Phrase: Do your best; don’t give up!
As we head into this new year, whether you are making goals and resolutions or just taking it one day at a time, let’s strive to be a community that is known for our stick-to-itiveness. Don’t give up!
Forging Diligence:
Use the questions below for personal reflection and to help start discussions within your family to encourage this month’s character trait.
- Discuss/contemplate the SLOCA definition of diligence. Maybe focus on the meaning of the words commitment, perseverance, and determination.
- Why is diligence an important character trait? Imagine a world where no one ever followed through.
- Why should you commit to doing tasks with excellence? Are there times when just finishing is enough?
- What are some tasks that you have to do every day? Do you do them with diligence?
- What is the hardest thing you have to do these days?
- When you think about giving up, what keeps you going?
- Think of a character from a book that demonstrated perseverance and diligence. What did they do when they faced difficulties or discouragement?
- How did 2021 challenge you to be more diligent?
- “Do your best!” – Is everyone’s best the same?
- Encourage your students to make some goals for the new year. What are some areas where they want to be more diligent?
- Discuss this Benjamin Franklin quote, “Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
- Have fun with this comparison – How is diligence like a stagecoach?
Print outs:
Print out your own diligence coloring page or poster to use for display in your home this month.
Diligence – Coloring Page
Diligence – Color Poster
For our previous Character Trait posts for 2021-2022, please see:
