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Hornet Connection
By Randy Horn
Last Updated: October 12, 2017

Teaching Seven Habits of Happy Kids

Watch out, Valley Center, the Seven Habits of Happy Kids are habit-forming.

Our Valley Center elementary schools are excited to report that they are all teaching new vocabulary to their students this year. The Seven Habits of Happy Kids come from the research of Stephen Covey, who is a renowned author and educator (best known book sold 25 million copies). The Seven Habits are designed to foster a positive school climate, promote student leadership and help students achieve academic excellence.

Practicing the Seven Habits does not require an on-going time-consuming curriculum. School staff can reinforce the principles throughout the day as opportunities arise.

Student-teacher conversations might sound like this: “I didn't have time to get my homework done?" Remember, “Put First Things First."

“I don't like to work with my shoulder partner?" Remember, “You need to Syn-ergize."

“I was late getting to class." Remember, “Be Proactive."

The applications are seemingly endless. The Seven Habits are not taught as a set of rules associated with punitive outcomes, but are a life skills set that can be applied through adulthood.

All three schools are sharing creative approaches to teaching the habits, such as fun hand actions, seven habits songs, skits, power-points, posters, bulletin boards, Seven Habit storybooks, Leader of the Week recognition, school-wide leaders recognition programs (based on the habits), leaders eating lunch with the principal and all staff looking for those “teachable moments" to reinforce the habits throughout the day.

The first three habits help students move from dependence to independence (self mastery). The next three habits reinforce interdependence (working with others). The final habit fosters continuous improvement in both personal and interpersonal spheres of influence.

Join us as we work to teach the Seven Habits:

•Be Proactive — You are in charge of yourself. You choose your actions, at- titudes and moods.

•Begin with the end in mind — Have a goal. Think ahead of the consequences of your actions.

•Put first things first — Work first then play. Make important “things" a priority.

•Think Win-Win — Problem solve with others so everyone wins. “I Win, You Win, We Win."

•Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood — Listen before you talk.

•Synergize — Learn to work well with others different than yourself. Learn from differences in others.

•Sharpen the Saw — Take needed breaks and rest to sustain a long-term effective lifestyle.

Randy Horn is counselor at Abilene Elementary School.




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