Directly teaching the skills needed for lifelong learning success.
For about a year I have been ruminating on a learning skills curriculum called Habits of Learning. This curriculum will set A One-Room Schoolhouse apart from any other homeschool support group. Habits of Learning directly teaches the skills needed for lifelong learning success.
But you don’t have to be a student studying with A One-Room Schoolhouse to enjoy this innovative program. Through blog posts starting every Monday, you can have access to this program as it develops.
Please join me as I present this curriculum. I will be giving it a test run in my own home as it is published on this blog. I would love your feedback as it rolls out.
Join me by using the hashtag #habitsoflearning. Tag @aoneroomschoolhouse when you post so we can all enjoy each other’s journey.
Habits of Learning: Program Introduction
Education is more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. Although a basic understanding of curricular objectives is important, it is also imperative to develop the lifelong habits needed to learn. In order to continue education beyond the classroom, habits of learning must be developed and maintained.
This curriculum has two parts: direct, scripted lessons of the ten habits of learning to be used in the home or classroom and a progress monitoring grid of these ten habits. The lessons are “open-n-go” with little preparation and few materials. They are designed for ease of use with high efficacy in implementation.
The lessons can be taught over a ten-week period, but are designed to be repeated as often as needed. A nondenominational Christian view is intertwined throughout the lessons. All scripture references are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Lessons and activities are designed to be used in a multi-age classroom setting but can also be done one-on-one.
How to Use Habits of Learning
To begin the program, simply complete the short preparation instructions and gather any needed household materials. This program fits well into a morning time basket, tea time, or other daily school or homeschool event. Five short (5 to 10 minutes) lessons are provided that are meant to be taught over the course of a 5-day school week. Each week you will introduce a new habit and teach each lesson to develop that habit.
A progress monitoring grid is used to help students, teachers, and parents reflect on the child’s habits of learning. Stages of habit development are given with certain criteria to monitor growth. Students first learn, then explore the habit.
After practicing the habit, they move on to become motivated in that area of growth. Finally, the student moves to mastery of the habit. Once mastery has been accomplished, the student is encouraged to become a mentor to others and promote mastery in all students.
Program Grounding
This program of personal development is based on the most current research in behavior intervention, historical wisdom of great educators, and years of practical experience in both the educational and therapeutic settings of the author.
Specifically, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) have heavily influenced this work as it provides a process to understand and develop positive behavior in students that is based on both values and empirical research. Both the models of Classical Education and the work of Charlotte Mason are melded together when considering teaching models and behavioral development. Finally, the author’s years of professional experience as a school physiologist, education director, and special education teacher honed this curriculum.
Ten Habits of Learning
Below are the ten Habits of Learning with the matching mantra. The mantra is a short tag line to quickly remind students of the meaning of the matching habit. As each habit is taught, the mantra will be memorized. Corresponding activities will guide the students to explore and internalize the habit.
- Responsibility: I mean what I say and I say what I mean.
- Respect: I am obedient and considerate to my family, classmates, community, and God.
- Organization: Everything has a place.
- Time Management: How long will it take, how much can I do, and when does it need to be done?
- Prioritization: What comes first, next, and last?
- Motivation: Moving from external to internal.
- Concentration: Mind, body, and heart.
- Listening: Ears, eyes, mouth, and body.
- Diligence: Neat, complete, and correct.
- Balance: Spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual.
Moving Forward
Next week I will share with you the Habits of Learning grid and give an in-depth explanation of how the grid is used in combination with the upcoming lessons.
Then, once a week, I will share the lesson plans for the Habit of Learning. I will report back on how I am implementing the program in my home on social media.
Invitation
So, are you in? Will you join me on the pilot run of Habits of Learning? Remember to use the hashtag #habitsoflearning and tag @aoneroomschoolhouse on social media. Comment here if you will give this a try!
Yes, I’m implementing this with my son.
I am so glad! We are happy to have you along for the journey! Take a picture and tag @aoneroomschoolhouse and use the hashtag #habitsoflearning!
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing it with us! I’ll definitely do this.
I am so glad. Feel free to share on social media.
Been doing it with my son! It is wonderful! Seeing a great improvement in our overall school environment! We are currently on “Listening” this week! Thank you so much for doing this! I don’t have instagram but I can share on facebook!
Thank you so much for your feedback! We also have Facebook @aoneroomschoolhous.com that you can follow along with. I am so glad you are enjoying the lesson and that you are seeing improvement in your son! That makes me so happy!