I KNOW I CAN

WINNING BEHAVIORS: LESSON 4

Quick Reference
Abstract: Students explore how words of encouragement and positive self talk are essential to
maintaining a growth mindset. They warm up making text to self connections with a
popular song. The mini lesson deepens student’s text analysis to making text to text
connections during a facilitated discussion about another popular song. In the
workshop, students write an ‘ACT personal mission statement’ that reflects how they
will work to change their perspective about the area in which they have the strongest
fixed mindset. The session closes with a check out of a passage from each student’
ACT mission statement.
CCSS: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.2
SEL IL State Standards: Students Will Be Able To:
1B.5a. Implement a plan to build on a strength,  Make a text to self and text to text connections
meet a need, or address a challenge.  Analyze popular music with the lens of the
1C.4a. Identify strategies to make use of resources Growth Mindset
and overcome obstacles to achieve goals.  Write a personal ACT mission statement to
1C.5a. Set a post-secondary goal with action steps, cultivate and maintain a Growth Mindset
timeframes, and criteria for evaluating
achievement.
Essential Question of the Day:
How do I use knowledge about my personal qualities, attitudes, interests, and skills to be more
successful?
Materials: Preparation:
 I Know I Can/ One Moment in Time*  Ensure the projector, speakers, and the
(1/student, double sided-) following website or Umoja Course Companion
 ACT Mission Statement (1/student) DVD is functioning:
 Computer, Projector & speakers or Umoja o http://vimeo.com/10811689
Course Companion DVD and TV o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cFFjV
LkmRg
*Source: Nas. "I Know I Can." God’s Son. Lyrics. Ill  Source audio version of songs if the A/V doesn’t
Will Records. 2002. work
*Source: Houston, Whitney. “One Moment in
Time.” 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One
Moment in Time. Lyrics. Arista Records. 1988.

Step-by-Step Procedures 42 Min

Warm Up I Know I Can 10 Min
1) Share the objectives of the lesson with students (see SWBATs above). Ask
students if they need clarification.
2) Hand students the I Know I Can/One Moment in Time. Have them refer to
the “I know I can” side.
Facilitator’s Note: As you read through Nas’s lyrics, some concepts may seem
offensive to you or shocking. Playing this song does not mean we are endorsing
all of Nas’s language or perspective as educators. However we do feel it is
important to give students material that is both accessible to them and that they

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 can relate to and to encourage them to thoughtfully reflect on Nas’s experiences
and how he has viewed the world. There are drug references, but it is clear in
the lyrics that he is encouraging young men and women to not give into these
substance “culture”, and strive for different goals.
3) Give students a brief background on Nas:
o Nas is an American rapper and actor. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara,
he was born and raised in the Queensbridge housing projects in New
York City. He was quickly named one of New York’s leading rap voices.
Nas’ outspoken, self-empowered demeanor rallied the streets of his city
and elsewhere.
o In this song, Nas is reflecting on the past, critiquing harmful cycles that
are present today, and trying to influence young people to think about
what they want to be.
4) Go to this site and show students the video of the Nas song:
http://vimeo.com/10811689
Facilitator’s Note: If you do not have A/V resources, students can go around a
circle and have each read a line from the lyrics.
5) Facilitate a brief discussion using some or all of the questions below. The
objective of the discussion is for students to make a text to self connection.
 What surprised you about this song; even if you have it before, what
sticks out?
 What is the main message? What are some lines that make you say
that?
Facilitator’s Note: Refer especially to the portions printed in bold type.
 Do you believe, as Nas says, that “You can be anything in the world” and
“if you believe, you can achieve”?
 How does this belief connect to what we learned in our last session
about the Growth Mindset?”
 How does this message personally connect to you and your life?
Mini Making Connections 10 Min
Lesson 1) Explain: “When we believe in a Growth Mindset, we notice our thoughts begin
to change. But we also know that even if we don’t completely believe in a
Growth Mindset, through meta cognitive reflection, we can work to change
our thoughts from the outside, like using the slogans we see around the room
that we created in our last session.”
Facilitator’s Note: Reference Mindset & Meta Cognition from lesson #1.
2) Explain: “Using meta cognition, we can train our minds to think growth-
minded thoughts which studies show is a habit of mind that promotes lifelong
learning and self improvement. Turn over I Know I Can to One Moment in
Time on the back. As we listen to this song, consider the connection between
thinking with a Growth Mindset and lifelong self improvement.”
3) Go to this site and show students the video of the Houston song of Whitney
Houston’s “One Moment in Time” and have students follow along with their
lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cFFjVLkmRg (begins at ~0:50)
Facilitator’s Note: If you do not have A/V resources, students can go around a
circle and have each read a line from the lyrics.
4) Facilitate a brief discussion using some or all of the questions below. The

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 objective of the discussion is for students to make a text to text connection.
 What lines are most powerful to you?
 What are some of the values that Whitney’s song communicates to the
listener? Are they similar to Nas?
 What are some of the obstacles mentioned in either song?
 How would either artist advise you to overcome these obstacles? You
can quote lyrics or give us your interpretation.
 According to these songs, what is the connection between a Growth
Mindset (believing you can) and lifelong self improvement?
 What is the connection between this idea and the obstacles we might
face in achieving our personal best on the ACT?
 What can we do to overcome these obstacles?
 How important are words of encouragement in the process of
overcoming obstacles?
 Do you give encouragement to other people often?
 How often do you encourage yourself?
Workshop Personal Mission Statement 15 Min
1) Explain: “You are now going to take these thoughts and create a personal
mission statement. A personal mission statement guides how one makes
decisions about their life, and gives you purpose and direction to reach those
decisions. Thinking about the idea of fixed versus growth mindset that we
have covered in the last couple of sessions, you are going to construct your
mission on how to change an area where you have the strongest fixed
mindset.”
2) Hand each student ACT Mission Statement and begin by reading the
quotations at the top of the page. Encourage students to think carefully
about how they will craft their mission statements, and clarify any questions.
Closing Final Statement 7 Min
1) Have students form a circle.
2) Explain: “To wrap-up, each member of our group will have the opportunity to
share one POWERFUL line from their personal statement. As you read over
your personal statement, choose one line that will inspire others to achieve
their personal best.”

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 I KNOW I CAN (BE WHAT I WANNA BE)
By Nas

I know I can, Beggin' different women for a

Be what I wanna be, place to sleep at night,
If I work hard at it, Smart boys turn to men and do
I'll be where I wanna be whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve,
B, B boys and girls listen up, you can be anything in then say it like this
the world
In god we trust, an architect, doctor, maybe an I know I can,
actress Be what I wanna be,
But nothin' comes easy it takes much practice, If I work hard at it,
Like I met a woman who was becoming a star, I'll be where I wanna be
She was very beautiful leaving people in awe
Singin' songs Lena Horne, but the younger version, B before we came to this country,
Hung wit' the wrong person, got her stunger than We were kings and queens-never porch monkeys
Irwin, There was empires in Africa called Kush,
Cocaine sniffin’ up drugs all in her nose, Timbuktu, where every race came to get books to
Could've died so young, now looks ugly and old, learn from black teachers
No fun cuz now when she reaches for hugs Who taught Greeks and Romans, Asians, Arabs, and
People hold their breath cuz she smells of corrosion gave them gold
and death, When gold was converted to money it all changed
Watch the company you keep, and the crowd you Money then became empowerment for Europeans,
bring, The Persian military invaded
Cuz they came to do drugs and you came to sing, They heard about the gold, the teachings and
So if you gonna be the best imma tell you how, everything sacred
Put your hands in the air and take the vow Africa was almost robbed naked,
Slavery was money, so they began making slave-
I know I can, ships
Be what I wanna be, Egypt was the place that Alexander the great went
If I work hard at it, He was in shock that in the mountains were black
I'll be where I wanna be faces
Shot off their nose to impose what basically
B, B boys and girls listen again Still goes on today you see
This is for grown looking girls who's only ten, If the truth is told the youth can grow,
The ones who watch videos and do as they see They'll learn to survive, until they gain control
As cute as can be, up in the clubs with fake IDs, Nobody says you have to be gangsters, hoes
Careful fo’ you meet a man with HIV Read more, learn more, change the globe
You can host a TV like Oprah Winfrey Ghetto children do your thing
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be Hold your head up little man you're a king
rapists Young princess when you get your wedding ring
So act your age, don't pretend to be older than you Your man's saying she's my queen
are,
Give yourself time to grow, you're thinking he can I know I can,
give you wealth Be what I wanna be,
But so young boy, you could use a lot of help you If I work hard at it,
know I'll be where I wanna be
Ya thinkin' life's all about smokin' weed and ice,
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write

Source: Nas. "I Know I Can." God’s Son. Lyrics. Ill Will Records. 2002.

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 “ONE MOMENT IN TIME”
By Whitney Houston

Each day I live Now lay the chance

I want to be Here in my hands
A day to give
The best of me Give me one moment in time
I'm only one When I'm more than I
But not alone thought I could be
My finest day When all of my dreams are a heartbeat
Is yet unknown away
And the answers are all up to me
I broke my heart Give me one moment in time
Fought every gain When I'm racing with destiny
To taste the sweet Then in that one moment of time
I face the pain I will feel
I rise and fall I will feel eternity
Yet through it all
This much remains You're a winner for a lifetime
If you seize that one moment in time
I want one moment in time Make it shine
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat Give me one moment in time
away When I'm more than I thought I could be
And the answers are all up to me When all of my dreams are a heartbeat
Give me one moment in time away
When I'm racing with destiny And the answers are all up to me
Then in that one moment of time Give me one moment in time
I will feel When I'm racing with destiny
I will feel eternity Then in that one moment of time
I will be
I've lived to be I will be
The very best I will be free
I want it all I will be
No time for less I will be free
I've laid the plans

Source: Houston, Whitney. “One Moment in Time.” 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time. Lyrics. Arista Records. 1988.

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 Name: ______________________________ Date: _____________
ACT MISSION STATEMENT
“It is the words that we think to ourselves that are more powerful A Word
than those said by others.” -Anonymous by Emily Dickenson

A word is dead
“Personal mission statements…are like a personal constitution, the When it is said,
basis for making major, life-directing decisions, the basis for making Some say
daily decisions in the midst of the circumstances and emotions that
affect our lives. When we create a mission statement of our own and I say it just
choose to live by it, we can flow with changes.” –The 7 Habits of Begins to live
Highly Effective People That day.

Explanation: The purpose of this Mission Statement is to choose an area of the ACT where you have
your strongest fixed mindset. (We all have areas in our lives viewed with a fixed mindset, maybe
because of a test that made us think we were “a bad student”, or because of a paper that made us think
we “just can’t do it”.)
Directions: In the space below, write a personal mission statement about how you choose to think
about yourself and your ability to grow and improve. Your mission statement should help you hold on
to the belief that learning is a process and you get better with effort, including the ACT! Use the
questions below to help guide your writing.
o In which area of the ACT do you have the most fixed mindset that you’d like to change?
o What are some ways you want to improve in this area?
o What steps will you take to develop your strength?
o What can you tell yourself in meta cognitive reflection when you hit an obstacle?
o Who in your life can help you to stay in a Growth Mindset and keep trying even when the going
gets tough?

MY PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

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