7 Habits at Home

As we present each of the Habits, we will post activities and suggestions

you can do at home to promote the skills that come from each one.

As we present each of the Habits, we will post activities and suggestions

you can do at home to promote the skills that come from each one.

LESSON 1: WHAT IS A HABIT?

In their 1st lesson, Mrs. Hinojosa and Mrs. Baumann are helping students build understanding of what a habit IS, and what it is NOT. A HABIT is a LEARNED BEHAVIOR that is done OFTEN and can be HELPFUL or HARMFUL.

Examples of habits include:

making your bed everyday
nail-biting
walking on the right side of the hallway
writing in a journal
smiling at both friends and strangers

Non-examples are:

your heart beating
blinking your eyes
breathing hard after running

LEADERSHIP LINGO:

Habit - a learned behavior that is done often and can be helpful or harmful to our daily lives.

AT HOME CONNECTION: START ~ STOP ~ KEEP

Brainstorm as a family which habit you should START doing (ex. - Sunday Fun Day bike rides at the park), which habit you should STOP doing (ex.- eating in front of the television instead of together at the table), and which habit you want to KEEP doing (ex. - donating old clothes and toys to Goodwill). These actions will help unite your family as a team with built-in accountability buddies to ensure they get done!

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BE PROACTIVE - I am in charge of my own feelings, actions, and attitudes. I take initiative and responsibility. I do the right thing, even when no one is looking. I do not blame others for my actions.

LEADERSHIP LINGO:

Circle of Control - the things I can control in my own life. These are the only things in life I can directly change. Examples: my words, my actions, my thoughts, what I wear, what I eat, my work ethic, etc. Things I cannot control are in either my circle of Influence or completely out of my circle of control.
Proactive vs. Reactive - When I am PRO-active, I take initiative to get things done, as well as ownership of my thoughts, words, and actions. When I am RE-active, I make excuses, argue, and blame others for the choices I make.

AT HOME CONNECTION: CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

Realizing no one can MAKE you do or feel ANYTHING is a HUGE concept for even adults to fully understand and apply in day-to-day life. So for kids, it takes constant reminders and conversations. But, we all have a Circle of Influence!

Realizing this can give children confidence and a sense of certainty within a very large and uncertain world. Some ways you can support this concept at home is by allowing your child to make choices that impact the entire family. Examples might be: Making suggestions for the week's dinner menu, making a list of places you could go on vacation, suggesting which games to play, or offering reasons why your family needs a pet.

They can't guarantee their choice will be picked, but they can definitely INFLUENCE the final decision by sharing their opinions. But be sure to get them to give a solid reason for their suggestion, don't allow them to say, "...because it's my favorite." Have them think through how their choice can be a positive experience for others! That is where the REAL influence lives.

Stellaluna

By: Janell Cannon

Separated from her mother and taken in by a family of birds, Stellaluna focuses on what is within her Circle of Control.

Inch By Inch

By: Leo Lionni

A clever inchworm uses his unique skills to avoid peril.

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND - I plan ahead and set goals for myself. I am always prepared and think about how the choices I make now will impact my future. I do things that are meaningful and helpful to those around me.

LEADERSHIP LINGO:

Goal Setting - When we want to achieve something, we must do more than just wish for it. Setting a goal requires you to know what you want, by a specific date, and what action you will take to make it happen. Example:

I want to live a healthier life by December 31st, so I will drink no more than 3 sodas each week.

Action Plan - Taking action towards a goal is critical, but also within your own Circle of Control. You cannot depend on the actions of others to make your goal come to fruition. Actions must also be specific and concrete, not abstract. (Example: "I will set a 5 minute timer each morning" vs. "I will spend a few minutes each day"
Goal Tracker - Visual accountability makes goals more tangible, and therefore, more obtainable. This can be as simple as a monthly calendar marked with check marks or x's and hung in a place you can see it every day.

AT HOME CONNECTION: PERSONAL & FAMILY MISSION STATEMENTS

What do you want you and your children to be remembered for? How do you want loved ones and friends to describe you to strangers? These are the basics to keep in mind when building a personal or family mission statement. A mission statement should communicate your purpose, principles, and values.

To begin, complete this table:

Then summarize the points you added into an easy to remember statement such as:

Once written, place your mission statement where it can be seen - as a reminder of who you are!

PUT 1ST THINGS 1ST - I do the things I have to do before the things I want to do. I stay focused on my work and don't allow distractions to stop me from getting things done.

LEADERSHIP LINGO:

Big Rocks - Big rocks are the things in life that are most important. They are the things that HAVE to or NEED to get done. They can also refer to the things that make the greatest impact on our lives right now.
Little Rocks - Little rocks are those things that we WANT to do or WASTE our time doing. When we put our little rocks in front of our big rocks, we can't fit everything into our day. This causes us unnecessary anxiety and worry.

AT HOME CONNECTION: TIME MANAGEMENT

Draw the following 4 square on a sheet of paper. Then sit down as a family and write out all of the weekly events that fall under each category so everyone can see the big rocks vs. the little rocks and spend their time focusing on the right things.

THINK WIN - WIN - I can problem solve when I have a conflict with another person. I can consider what other people might want and compromise to make us both happy.

LEADERSHIP LINGO:

WIN - LOSE - I get what I want but you do not.
LOSE - WIN - You get what you want, but I do not.
LOSE - LOSE - Neither of us gets what we want.
WIN - WIN - We both get a say in what we want and how we can achieve it.

AT HOME CONNECTION: WIN-WIN WALK

As an Assistant Principal, Mrs. Baumann noticed students simply did not know how to discuss conflicts with one another. Actually, not many adults know how to, either! So she did a little research and came up with The Win-Win Walk. The key is to ensure that BOTH parties have an EQUAL voice to share what they felt and what they need to make things right. Use this tool ANY time kiddos are in conflict with YOU or each other. It’s a magical tool that allows everyone to be heard for a true WIN-WIN!

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD -

I always ACTIVELY LISTEN before I TALK. I wait my turn and do not interrupt or blurt out. I can empathize with other people's emotions and ask questions so I can better help.

LEADERSHIP LINGO:

ACTIVE LISTENING - We listen with our eyes, ears, body, and heart.

ASSUME - Thinking you know the answer but you do not have any evidence.

CLARIFY - Gathering facts and details.

EMPATHY - To understand and share the feelings of others.

AT HOME CONNECTION: WIN-WIN WALK

Do you ever ask your kiddo, "What did you learn today?" to which they reply, "Nothing" or "I don't know!" So frustrating! Well instead of asking the same question and getting the same response, try SEEKING 1st TO UNDERSTAND in a different way. Ask more specific questions to get a more specific answer:

Who made you smile today?
What class did you enjoy the most today and why?
When did you feel successful today?
Where did you play during recess?
Why do you want to go back to school tomorrow?
How can I help you with your homework tonight?

These are just a few of the questions you can ask to better understand your child's day and view on school. Once you understand them, you can work to have them better understand you!

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