The Covenant

I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn. — Albert Einstein

From cognitive skill testing reports it will be obvious that students have diverse cognitive skill needs. They will also have varying educational goals and expectations and certainly varying levels of awareness of the potential positive impact training their brains can have on their learning potential and future achievements.

The purpose of a written document is to establish some initial common ground for expectations. For Junior High students and above an agreement with their parents or the educators who are offering them access to a cognitive skill training program may prove helpful. That agreement on a few important ideas can be summarized in a document. The agreement or covenant can simply state that the opportunity being afforded them is a valuable educational opportunity. It can further state that the program is self-directed and that the student needs to understand that their success in the program will require self-determination, sustained individual effort, internal motivation and self-reliance. The schedule expectations and time on task requirements to participate should be detailed in the document. Any external individual rewards for participation or accomplishment in the program should be stated as well.

The document should be kept as simple and straight forward as possible but should serve as an initial acknowledgement of the student’s obligation to act equally with respect towards any people who are working with them in this program whether they be family, school teachers or administrators, or volunteers appointed as program coaches. Respect is the first of seven core character qualities presented in the program and should be seen as a foundational commitment in a student’s agreement to participate.

Creating My Future is a sample agreement (covenant) that can be printed to establish an initial agreement with a student who is being invited to or has been scheduled to participate in brain training exercises.