Habit 1 - Be Proactive
This week, our Kindergarten students learned about being PROACTIVE and being in charge of themselves.. We enjoyed the story, 1-2-3 A Calmer Me together. We talked about having a plan, knowing what to do.......solving problems!!!
Here is a video of Mrs. Gallucci's class practicing the 1-2-3 A Calmer Me strategies:
Here is what the students are saying to help 'regulate' or control their bodies and brains so they are ready to learn:
1-2-3 A Calmer Me
1-2-3 I Hug Me
1-2-3 Relax and Breathe
1-2-3 A Calmer Me
We learned that being PROACTIVE means you are in charge of yourself and this happens by:
1. Being Responsible
2. Choosing your actions, attitudes and moods
3. Doing good things, even when no one is around
The following video or song was also shared with the students about the 7 Habits:
Habit 2 - Start With The End In Mind
This week we learned about HAVING A PLAN. We talked about why making plans or GOALS helps us to stay organized and able to learn or do our best.
If I start with the end in mind:
1. I plan ahead and have goals for myself
2. I am prepared at all times
3. I think about how the choices I make will affect my future (maybe not 10 years from now, but just daily)
4. I think about the positive and negative consequences of my actions
We concentrated on learning about GOALS in Kindergarten. The students helped me to brainstorm that goals mean we can work on something or get better at something. The one example they shared was: "I can be nice to other friends"
We read the book Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda, which helped us to understand that it is our job to make sure our brains are only thinking about what we are doing right at this very moment; it isn't thinking about a ton of other things. The students helped in figuring out that if our brains are thinking about lots and lots of stuff, we probably won't do our best work at that very moment!
We also talked about the word MINDFULNESS ~ it means that our brain should only concentrate on one thing at a time in order for us to do our absolute best work.
Habit 3 - Put First Things First
This week we learned about WORKING FIRST, THEN PLAYING. We talked about why it is important for us to be RESPONSIBLE with our choices.
If I put first things first:
1. I do the things that I have to do before I do the things I want to do
2. I stay focused on what I am doing. I try to only pay attention to the person talking and not other distractions.
3. I spend my time on the things that are most important
We concentrated on learning about FOCUSING in Kindergarten. The students helped me to brainstorm ways to be responsible: taking care of your things, making good learning choices, listening the first time a direction is given, etc.
We read the book Silence, which helped us to understand that it is our job to make sure our brains are only thinking about what we are doing right at this very moment; it isn't thinking about a ton of other things. We are RESPONSIBLE for our body and brain!
Habit 4 - Think Win Win
This week we learned that Everyone Can Win. We talked about the word COMPROMISE and that it means to SHARE or COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
If I think win win:
1. I can problem solve when an issue comes up with another person
2. I think about what other people want and not just what I want
3. I am kind to others and try to think of ways to help everyone to be happy
We concentrated on learning that FAIRNESS isn't necessarily everyone having the same thing, rather it is EVERYONE HAVING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS. For example, I wear glasses and contacts in order to see and do my best work and their teacher may not ~ that isn't unfair, but it is what we each need to do our job OR some students may need extra practice with the teacher and others do not ~ that isn't unfair, it is just what we all need to be successful.
We read the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today, which helped us to understand that it is our job to be kind to others, be fair and have a good attitude. We also learned about the GOLDEN RULE ~ 'treat others the way you want to be treated'
Habit 5 - Seek First to Understand then to be Understood
This week we learned that we need to LISTEN before we speak and act. We talked about not interrupting others, and learning to respect the feelings of others.
If I seek first to understand then to be understood:
1. I listen to others without interrupting
2. I raise my hand when I want to speak and I wait to be called on
3. I don't blurt out
4. I try to understand other people's views and feelings, even if they are different from my own
We concentrated on learning how to be respectful to others and how we can show that we are respectful.
We read the book Ripple's Effect, which helped us to understand that it is our job to be kind to others, be fair and have a good attitude. It also reminded us that we are in charge of making sure our bodies and brains are ready to learn AND are making great learning choices!
Habit 6 - Synergize
This week we learned that together is better. We talked about working with a partner or a team of people.
If we synergize:
1. I get along with other people and work well in groups
2. I value the strengths of others and allow myself to learn from them
3. I know that by working together as a team we can get more done and come up with better solutions than we could alone
We concentrated on learning how to be respectful to others and how we can cooperate together.
We enjoyed the following story "Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class", which helped us learn more about cooperating and working with others.
