THE SEVEN HABITS OF STUDENT SUCCESS

AN ADAPTION OF COVEY’S (1998) “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” and

Basmagian’s (2006) “A Simple Way to an A”

Bruce L. Mims, Ed.D

Guidelines for “Courageous Guidelines for “Courageous Conversation”Conversation” Speak your (personal, local, immediate) truth—Speak your (personal, local, immediate) truth—

keep it realkeep it real Keep an open mindKeep an open mind If necessary, allow yourself to experience some If necessary, allow yourself to experience some

level of discomfortlevel of discomfort BUT, remain engagedBUT, remain engaged Do NOT take or direct things personallyDo NOT take or direct things personally We ALL have something valuable to contribute to We ALL have something valuable to contribute to

this processthis process If (and when) necessary, accept non-closureIf (and when) necessary, accept non-closure

Icebreaker: “Find Someone Who…” Has an antique or classic

car___ Has at least 2 kids___ Has traveled to 2 or more

continents___ Has run a marathon___ Speaks 2 or more

languages___ Is a homeowner___ Likes to cook___ Enjoys quilting____ Knows how to Scuba

Dive____ Has published a book or

scholarly journal article____ Enjoys gardening____ Has seen the Great

Pyramids___

Has been to the Grand Canyon____

Likes to go to Las Vegas____ Likes to go to the

movies____ Enjoys

Broadway/Theatre____ Enjoys rock/mountain

climbing____ Has children in college____ Enjoys scrap booking____ Plays Basketball____ Likes to read Mystery

novels____ Is actively involved in a

political campaign___ Has served in the

military____

Group Activity: DyadsStudent to Student/Parent to Parent talk

With a fellow Parent (or student)… Introduce yourself Talk about your greatest excitement about the

upcoming school year Then discuss your greatest fear about it as well

(remember our guidelines) Briefly talk about your hopes and dreams for your child,

or your goals and dreams for yourself as a student Be prepared to share out (select a spokesperson)

Introduce your partner Briefly talk about what you shared in common Then talk about some things that were unique about

each other

CORNELL NOTES AVID STRATEGY

WHO AM I???

I AM HABIT

SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE (Covey, 1998)

BE PROACTIVE BEGIN WITH AN END IN MIND PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST THINK “WIN-WIN” SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO

BE UNDERSTOOD SYNERGIZE SHARPEN THE SAW

HABIT 1: BE PROACTIVE

Getting Control: Proactive versus Reactive

Taking Responsibility for what happens to you

Three Types of People: Those who makes

things happen Those who watch things

happen Those who wonder,

“what happened?”

Listen to Your Language: “I’ll try” versus “I’ll do it” “that’s just the way I am”

versus “I can be better than that”

“there’s nothing I can do” versus “let’s look at some options”

“I have to” versus “I choose to”

“I can’t” versus “there’s got to be a way”

“you ruined my day” versus “ your bad mood is not going to rub off on me”

Victimitis

7 Types of Students, the Intervention Continuum and Being Proactive Cynical:

Neither motivated nor optimistic—even when successful at learning (intensive intervention from onset, SST)

Lazy: Student is only temporarily motivated and seldom optimistic—

even when successful at learning (intensive intervention from onset, SST)

Average: Student is motivated and optimistic until he or she faces their

first setback in learning—e.g., a low grade on HW or test (close monitoring, intensive intervention is imminent)

Above-Average: Student is motivated and optimistic until faced with a series of

learning setbacks (monitor changes, trust your instincts, don’t wait to seek intensive intervention when you see warning signs)

7 Types of Students and the Intervention Continuum and Being Proactive (cont’d)

Accomplished: Student is motivated until faced with a seemingly

insurmountable learning obstacle (monitor, and intervene when the situation calls for it)

Successful: Student is motivated and optimistic, and seldom gives up, and

continues to learn, despite the obstacles (monitor, and do not ignore that once is an accident and twice is a pattern, be your child’s advocate)

Truly Wise: Student is always motivated and optimistic, regardless of

successes or failures; understands that success and failure are part of life’s never-ending learning process (teach your child to advocate for themselves—the ultimate goal: resiliency)

Reality Check: Adults versus Teens (Mature) Adults are wise,

experience, grounded, proactive, patient, consistent, and forgiving

(Mature) Adults plan for the future, and understand that things take time to acquire

(Mature) Adults practice sound values and habits that are important to their lives

(Mature) Adults learn from their mistakes, knowing they are stepping stones to success

(Mature) Adults understand that self-discipline is the best way to take care of oneself

(Mature) Adults think of their children first, because they know that the future is theirs

(Typical) Teens are smart, and inexperienced, emotional, often inactive and inconsistent-and they need to be forgiven

(Typical) Teens live for the moment and think that good things come easier than they really do

(Typical) Teens do not yet know which values or habits are universally important to their lives

(Typical) Teens are unrealistically dream-oriented and believe they can accomplish things without setting goals

(Typical) Teens think that self-discipline is a limiting form of punishment that adults impose on them

(Typical) Teens think of themselves first and do not realize how self-sacrificing their parents are

Reality Check: “So What”

The challenge is… Knowing your child Being honest with yourself in the scope

and context of your strengths and weaknesses

Not leaving anything to chance Regardless of how tired or how powerless

you may feel

Tool Time

ISIS Parent Module Gives you access to your child’s grades

and attendance Forms are downloadable thru the

school website—sign and submit to the enrollment office

5-day turn around Information is power; transform that

power into leverage and accountability

Tool Time (cont’d)

Check your child’s planner on a weekly basis Teaches your child to account for his or

her day Again, information which is convertible

into accountability and leverage

HABIT 2: BEGIN WITH AN END IN MIND

The Blank Puzzle What is the

roadmap of your life?

Visualize Yourself: One year from now Five years from

now Ten years from

now

Consider this: The crossroads of

life Adolescent years

will affect the rest of your life—for good or bad

That’s why the choices you make are of such critical importance

Group Exercise/Vision: Dyads—parent to parent; student to student“The Reflection in the Mirror”

When you look in the mirror, what is the person you would like to see? __________________ __________________ __________________

List three things you could do in order to become that person… __________________ __________________ __________________

Group Exercise (cont’d)

What are three obstacles impeding you in your efforts to become that person:

___________________ ___________________ ___________________

List three action steps you can take to help you overcome the obstacles

___________________ ___________________ ___________________

Share your results with your partner Select a spokesperson (remember our guidelines) Share out common threads and contrasts

CORNELL NOTES

HABIT 3: PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST (WILL AND WON’T POWER)

Our Busy Lives Packing More into

Your Life Planning

Weekly: Big tasks (Maximum 5)

Block out the time for your big tasks

Then, schedule everything else

Big rocks and little ones

Adapt

Will and Won’t Power The Comfort Zone

versus the Courage Zone: The 85 to 15 rule FEAR Strength in difficult

moments Peer Pressure

Tool Time Planning

15 minutes on Sunday to plan; parents—5 minute check Find some quiet time to plan out your 3-5 top

priorities (“big rocks”) Then, insert all the other “stuff” PARENTS: commit FIVE minutes to LISTEN to

your child as he or she reviews their week with you

Ask questions to attain clarity—engage Take five minutes (WED) to spot check

your calendar to gauge your progress Make adjustments as needed

Tool Time: Being Proactive

Make sure your child’s notebook is fully stocked Binders, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc No notebook? What’s wrong what that

picture? Make sure your child’s backpack is

where it belongs Put things in place to prevent

scrambling and SNAFUs

Okay, time to look ahead…

This is where we will stop the “work” (for now)

Let’s look ahead to our next workshop The remaining FOUR Habits

HABIT 4: THINK “WIN-WIN”

LOSE-WIN WIN-LOSE LOSE-LOSE WIN-WIN: THE ALL YOU CAN EAT

BUFFET COMPETING AND COMPARING

HABIT 5: SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD

Consider this: Don’t make assumptions Listening versus selective hearing Communicating your needs

HABIT 6: SYNERGIZE

What is synergy? Celebrating differences versus

tolerating them Teamwork versus working

independently Open mindedness versus myopia Finding new and better ways of doing

things versus compromise Symbiotic Relationships Diversity

HABIT 7: SHARPEN THE SAW

TAKING CARE OF YOUR MIND TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY TAKING CARE OF YOUR SPIRIT

Questions?

Evaluation

Which idea or topic did you find the most useful or helpful?

Which did you find the least helpful?

Overall, I found the workshop empowering (circle one) Strongly agree Agree No decision Disagree Strongly disagree