WhyTry Email to Utah Families

Introducing Growth Mindset with WhyTry

Dear Harmony Utah Families,

After a successful pilot program this past semester, Harmony is excited to invite you to participate in the elective course –  Growth Mindset with WhyTry. This course aims to fill a student’s imaginary backpack with tools for life success. Through a combination of age-appropriate hands-on activities using creative metaphors, art activities, music, and journaling, students will explore strategies for life. 

WhyTry is a 16-week course that will begin in August. The class is available to students in grades K-3 and 4-6. The cost of this semester course is $35.

The class is offered in a live, online format with a WhyTry-trained Harmony teacher. On the other weeks, students log in to Canvas for a brief assignment.

  • Students will log in to Zoom for a 45-minute session every other Tuesday or Thursday depending on grade level.
  • Session times: K-3rd grades at 1-1:45 pm and 4th-6th grades at 2-2:45 pm

If you are interested in enrolling your child in the WhyTry course, you can add it by going to the Curriculum Subscription resource order form. If you have any questions, please contact your mentor or email the instructor directly, Lynelle McElhannon, lmcelhannon@harmonyed.com .

We hope to see you in class!

Warm Regards,

John Thorn
President

WhyTry Outline

Weeks 1 and 2
Reality Ride: Each decision we make has a consequence. The decisions we make today directly affect the future.

Weeks 3 and 4
Labels: Negative labels can hurt one’s future, but positive labels can help one achieve their goals and attain better opportunities.

Weeks 5 and 6
Defense Mechanisms: Pressure situations are best handled by maintaining control of one’s emotions and selecting positive defense mechanisms (those that don’t hurt oneself or others).

Weeks 7 and 8
Motivation Formula: One can take their challenges and channel them into positive motivation: first to better oneself, and then to turn outward and help others.

Weeks 9 and 10
Climbing Out: When one develops an awareness of the positive and negative ways that people can influence each other, they will be prepared to avoid negative behaviors and their consequences.

Weeks 11 and 12
Jumping Hurdles: Everyone experiences setbacks, but successful people “jump back up” and keep trying. They know that there are certain steps they can use to help them overcome their challenges and achieve success.

Weeks 13 and 14
Desire, Time, Effort: Anything worthwhile in life requires desire, time, and effort. There are no shortcuts to achieving success. One will get much further in life by working hard than by simply relying on their talents and abilities.

Weeks 15 and 16
Get Plugged In: Getting help is not a weakness; it is a strength! Challenges become easier when one has a positive support system to help them overcome the challenges. We all have the power to create a support system if we don’t have one. We all have the power to strengthen a support system if yours is weak.