Invest in Your Ability to Innovate

About the Author:  My name is 🍃Tree Strepek & I spent 5 wonderful years as a Technology Teacher for K-12 students in a private college prep academy.   My years in middle and high school education taught me how much I enjoy inspiring young people to discover and develop their natural giftedness.   

I am here to extend my investment into America's Youth.  I love middle school age boys & teenagers alike and the smart ones need to be challenged.  Bored, smart kids challenge their parents (haha).  Honestly, investing in a young person's own understanding of self is one of the most valuable, lasting gifts we can impart on them.   Every one of us has natural strengths, especially young people.  

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Today: We get to do a fun workshop that will reveal information about your natural strengths. 

How:  We are going to take two tests that reveal data about a person’s natural aptitudes.  As you take the test and learn something about yourself, write down facts about your personality type as you go.  Learning your personality type is only the 1st Step.  It's pretty cool- there are 16 possible personality types and each one is equally awesome!   

Students:  Every one of us has natural strengths.  In plain terms these natural strengths(called aptitudes) are our giftedness.  Aptitudes are strengths we don’t have to work for.  Aptitudes are part of us.  They make us truly unique.  For many reasons, most of us cannot identify our natural strengths.  Let's see if we can change that & spend some time pausing to grow personally.   

Step 1: Look @ Clues and Jot Down Ideas....  

• Clue #1: We tend to lean into our strengths in times of need.  What part of who you are do you lean on under pressure?  When you are in trouble- Are you a talker?  Do you try to empathize?  Are you an entertainer?  

• Clue #2: Natural strengths are FUN for us to use.  They energize us.  What do you engage in that makes you feel like "POW- I LOVE THAT!" !  

• Clue #3:  Natural strengths come easy for us.  What is easy for you?  What job would you do even if you didn't get paid- because you enjoy it.
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Step 2: Take these personality tests.  

• Test #1:  http://www.16personalities.com/personality-types
• Test #2:  http://www.truity.com/view/types

Step 3: Fill out the Handout your Teacher provided.  Make sure you circle your personality type.

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Teachers:  I know how much time is eaten up lesson planning.  That's why I made this meaningful lesson turn-key for you.  This is a smart lesson.  Your preparation includes about 10 minutes to print handouts for each student.    

• Print a 2-sided color handout for each student
• https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/itreeware/Innovation+In+Me/InnovationInMe_2016_PDF.pdf
• PDF Slide Deck Presentation 
• https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/itreeware/Innovation+In+Me/InnovationInMe_slideDeck_PDF.pdf