Jim “Basketball” Jones is offering both in-person and virtual assemblies this school year. Visit our Covid-19 update to get the answers to all your questions about your assembly.
Growth Mindset School Assembly:
“The Power of Yet”
One of the reasons why so many schools invite Jim Basketball Jones back year after year is his powerful Growth Mindset message. His passion for this message steams from his own personal journey through Special Education to graduation at the top of his class in college.
In this school assembly, Jim will focus on effort and failing forward instead of failing apart. Mistakes are a sign of effort and not a sign of failure. Your students will repeat some of Jim’s famous sayings along with his fun gestures: “We all learn over time with practice if we don’t quit.” “In this school we do hard things over and over again until they become easy. Then we ask for more hard stuff.” “You don’t have to be great to try, but if you don’t try you’ll never be great.”
This is a fun and active school assembly as students get a chance to try to keep up with some of Jim’s basketball moves. Jim will challenge them to do their best and keep trying. Mistakes are okay and are part of learning.
Jim and his wife, Brenda, wrote a children’s picture book about Growth Mindset and The Power of Yet called Bouncy and The Power of Yet. Students will get to meet one of the main characters from the book, Yeti. Yeti is the master of the Power of Yet and a symbol to remind students to keep trying: “You just don’t know it YET!”
Frequently, schools ask Jim to share his personal story of being a Special Education student and how he persevered. His personal story is very powerful and moving. Teachers love to hear Jim’s story.
"Your presentation has once again left us in awe. The way you weave entertainment and education together is the mark of a master teacher. You teach valuable life lessons in such a fun way the students hardly know they're learning. We will all take away many important values from today's assembly including but not limited to: Do the right thing, learn from your mistakes and you are in control of your own effort."
Lisa Fenchel - Principal - Meadows Elementary - Novi, MI
What your students will learn
Mistakes are Okay: Kids sometimes feel they have to be perfect and they can’t make any mistakes. This adds pressure and causes anxiety. Mistakes are a sign of effort and a “critical” part of learning.
Own Your Effort: Effort is the key to learning and improving. We can’t control everything, but we can control our effort.
Just Try: “You don’t have to be great to try, but if you don’t try you’ll never be great.” – Jim “Basketball” Jones
Perseverance: Fail forward, don’t fail apart. Keep going! Keep trying! Keep learning! Keep Growing!
Apply Kindness - Take action to be kind by Doing Something Kind. Kindness sends a message that says, you’re important, you matter and I care. When kids feel safe, they are more willing to take risks and try.
This Assembly Is Great For
Why Schools Invest in Jim’s Programs
Fun and Engaging: Schools love how fun and engaging Jim’s programs are for both the students and teachers. Everybody leaves happy and refreshed.
Powerful Message: Jim is constantly reading and researching current developments and principles in character education. Plus, Jim will customize his message to fit your school’s needs.
Audience Management: Schools absolutely LOVE Jim’s audience management and frequently comment that even the students that never can stay in any assembly do well in his assembly. His audience participation and engagement is second to none. Schools love how engaged gets the students. He will have your students engaged from entrance to exit and every moment in between.
Magical Moments: Schools have been amazed by Jim’s awareness and empathy when picking and working with students. He finds kids that really need an uplifting and positive moment and he delivers.
Low Maintenance: Jim’s program are 45-50 minutes with easy set-up (15 min.) It makes it easier for you plus your gym or performance space won’t be tied up all day with equipment. Frequently, Jim will set up along the wall while PE class is still being taught.