Create an Academic Black Belt Excellence Blueprint: Helping Kids Turn Goals Into Action

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUCCESS SERIES | WEEK 4

Create an Academic Black Belt Excellence Blueprint: Helping Your Child Turn School-Year Goals Into Action

By Master Andre Johnson | Quest Martial Arts Coral Springs

At the beginning of a new school year, parents often ask their children:

“What do you want to accomplish this year?”

Maybe the answer is:

“I want to get straight A’s.”

“I want to make Honor Roll.”

“I want to get better at math.”

“I want to become a better reader.”

“I want to be more confident.”

Those are great goals.

But at Quest Martial Arts Coral Springs, we teach our students something very important:

The goals we SET are the goals we GET—but only when they’re supported by the right habits and consistent action.

That’s why our students have been completing their Academic Black Belt Excellence Blueprint.

And as these assignments have started coming back, I’ve loved seeing our students—and their parents—put real thought into what success should look like this school year.

A Goal Is More Powerful When a Child Has a Plan

We don’t want children simply saying, “I want to do better in school.”

We want them to begin learning how to think like successful people.

Our Academic Black Belt Excellence Blueprint asks students to identify four things:

My Goals This School Year — What do I want to accomplish?

Obstacles I Must Overcome — What could prevent me from reaching those goals?

Black Belt Habits I Will Practice — Who do I need to become?

My Daily Action Steps — What will I actually DO to make it happen?

Look at the difference.

Instead of simply saying:

“I want straight A’s.”

A student begins thinking:

What habits will straight A’s require?

Maybe it’s doing homework before playing video games.

Maybe it’s studying a little every day instead of cramming the night before a test.

Maybe it’s paying closer attention in class.

Maybe it’s asking the teacher for help when something isn’t understood.

Maybe it’s putting the phone down.

Maybe it’s refusing to give up when a subject becomes difficult.

That’s when a wish begins becoming a blueprint.

Parents and Children Are Partners in Academic Success

There’s another important component to this assignment:

The student and parent complete it together.

Why?

Because academic excellence is a partnership—but the responsibilities aren’t the same.

The student’s responsibility

Ultimately, the student has to do the work.

Parents cannot learn multiplication tables for their children.

We can’t take their tests.

We can’t pay attention in class for them.

The student has to:

• Study.

• Complete assignments.

• Listen to the teacher.

• Ask questions.

• Practice.

• Manage distractions.

• Learn from mistakes.

• Keep going when something becomes difficult.

That is personal responsibility.

And learning personal responsibility may ultimately be even more valuable than earning an A.

The parent’s responsibility

Our job isn’t to do the work for our children.

Our job is to help create an environment in which excellence can grow.

That might mean establishing a consistent homework routine.

Creating a quiet place to study.

Setting appropriate boundaries around phones, gaming and television.

Making sure children get adequate sleep.

Checking their progress.

Communicating with teachers.

Recognizing effort and improvement.

Helping them regroup after setbacks.

And, most importantly:

Believing in them while teaching them to believe in themselves.

The child owns the goal.

The parent provides structure, accountability, encouragement and support.

That’s the partnership.

From Martial Arts Goals to Academic Goals

Parents sometimes think martial arts is primarily about learning punches, kicks and self-defense.

Those things are part of what we teach.

But they’re not the entire mission.

At Quest Martial Arts Coral Springs, we believe the lessons learned through martial arts should transfer into the classroom, the home and eventually adulthood.

That’s why two lines our students recite in our Black Belt Creed are:

“I develop myself physically and mentally based on the Quest Martial Arts spirit.”

And:

“I achieve my fullest potential by developing knowledge in my mind, honesty in my heart and strength in my body.”

Those aren’t simply words we want children to memorize.

We want them to live them.

And what is the Quest Martial Arts Spirit?

I BELIEVE IN MYSELF AND I NEVER GIVE UP.

Imagine what happens when a child takes that mentality into school.

Math gets difficult?

I don’t give up.

I don’t understand the assignment?

I ask for help.

I make a mistake?

I learn from it.

I don’t get the grade I wanted?

I adjust my plan and work harder.

Someone else seems naturally better at something?

I keep developing myself.

That’s a Black Belt attitude toward education.

Children Need More Than Someone Telling Them to “Do Better”

One of the reasons we intentionally provide assignments like the Academic Black Belt Excellence Blueprint is that children need tools.

“Get better grades.”

“Study harder.”

“Pay attention.”

“Stop procrastinating.”

Those instructions may be correct—but children also need someone to teach them HOW.

How do I set a meaningful goal?

How do I identify what’s getting in my way?

How do I develop better habits?

How do I turn a big goal into daily actions?

How do I recover when I fail?

How do I stay disciplined when I don’t feel motivated?

Those are life skills.

And those are exactly the kinds of skills we want our students developing at Quest.