The Fun, Effective Way to

Boost Student Achievement


“The starting point of great success and achievement has always been the same. It is to dream big dreams. There is nothing more important, and nothing that works faster than to cast off own limitations, to begin dreaming and fantasizing about the wonderful things that you can become, have, and do.”

– Brian Tracy
Achievement – Planning – Success – Goals


When students can envision a future, they are more likely to make the changes, put forth the effort, and acquire the skills necessary to achieve it. Specifically, if you look at two groups most likely to fail, Special Education Students and At Risk students, setting goals by creating vision videos are more likely to help them:

  • Improve test scores
  • Stay in school
  • Graduate and go on to college

Bob Dockendorf, Big Lake High School Principal, is concerned about the number of students the school loses every year as Middle School students transition to High School. Because of this concern, moving forward, every 9th grader will use TEL.A.VISION to create a vision video that will be shared with other students and staff.

“We believe we can change the climate of the school and reduce our dropout rate by having our students use TEL.A.VISION and create their own vision videos,” said Mr. Dockendorf.

Derek Berg, principal at Oakland Junior High in Stillwater, Minn. “When a student gets in trouble, I can bring he or she in and instead of lecturing, watch their vision video with them and ask ‘how is this behavior helping you reach your vision?’”

The Lake Elmo School is introducing the video to its fifth-graders, said Principal Andrew Fields. “It informs them of what they need to do to get to where they want to be,” he said, and “It gives kids the opportunities to get to know their friends better.”

“It has had a profound effect on how they treat each other in the hallway,” said Mr. Fields. “This has really exposed all our children to the potential of what they someday could become.”


TEL.A.VISION Benefits:

Offers Profound Insight: Taking time to help students articulate their dreams is a powerful act in and of itself. TEL.A.VISION offers teachers new insights into students’ goals, gifts, values and dreams. Potential side effects: enhanced communication, deeper bonds with students and a better understanding of their needs and how to help them succeed.

Easily Integrates into Curriculum: Due to the interdisciplinary nature of creating Vision Videos, TEL.A.VISION can be applied to a variety of subjects, including social studies, health, media, English, history, etc.

Builds Community in the Classroom: Sharing Vision Videos in class is a celebration. Students, teachers and parents have a unique opportunity to learn about and support each other in new and meaningful ways.

Motivates and Inspires Special Ed and At-Risk Students: TEL.A.VISION promotes technology as a positive force in student’s lives by giving them the opportunity to tell their own stories of who they want to be and what they want to do in the future. TEL.A.VISION gives students a voice within this media revolution and provides them with powerful tools that foster authenticity, meaning and life-affirming choices.

Here is a link to an article in THE Journal called “Web-Based Hope” where two teachers share how TEL.A.VISION has benefited their classrooms.