Page 32 - SB-Too Birds

WORKSHEET
On the next worksheet, Cosmos talks about how the penguins did not want to do a task because it would make them too uncomfortable. The example that is used is related to the idea that studying makes you uncomfortable. One of the major contributors to poor school performance and failure is an unwillingness to study adequately. Although intelligence may be a contributing factor, an inability to put up with the discomfort (anxiety and frustration) of study is the main culprit.
A child who gets his math homework incorrect may say, “No, I did not check my answers that would have taken too long.” So rather than take the time to check them and do the corrections, he would get them wrong and not learn the skill the homework was suppose to impart (not to mention validating that math is too hard and/or he is too dumb to understand math).
You want the children to understand that the discomfort they experience is self-generated. The math homework is not making you uncomfortable; you are making yourself uncomfortable while working on the math homework.
This discomfort is caused by telling yourself, “This is too hard, will take too long, is too much trouble and so on.” Leaning to stop the Too thoughts and replacing them with a Coping Self-Conversation, “I need to get this right so I can pass the test. If the others can understand this so can I even if it takes me longer. The television show I will miss will be on another time” will take effort and time.
Don’t think it will be easy for children who have habituated Too Beliefs to be able to change. Tell them it will be difficult and take time but that you know they can do it.
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