Getting Started with The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

The last few days have been a little hectic. We are trying to get into a routine with the diabetic cat.  Giving insuline to the cat is really not that difficult or time-consuming.  It just has to be done exactly every 12 hours. So, I can't just leave early to stop at the store. I can't go to yoga at 6pm because we need to give the insuline at 6:30pm. I would go to yoga at 4:20, but I have several appointments this week and next at 4 and 4:30pm. Anyway, we are getting there.  I was so tired I went to bed at like 8pm and woke up in the middle of the night to work on some things. (I have not done this since graduate school.)

The last week or so have been pretty good at school.  We finally are establishing a routine, which is helping my students tremendously.  We have had a huge improvement in independence, maturity, and a lot less anxiety. This year has been interesting.  I have a small class of primarily gifted, multi-age students.  The year began with a lot of anxiety and emotions for my students.  Coming from teaching a mixed ability set of 5th graders, I just was unused to seeing such emotional displays from my students.  Most 10-12 year olds have matured a little more than younger students and tend to mainly just cry when they get seriously hurt or something is really wrong. I have taught primarily gifted students before, but they were sixth graders.  Sensitive, gifted 12 year olds have different behavior than gifted students at younger ages.  This year has helped me grow as a teacher.  My students are academically 4th and 5th graders, but emotionally many of them exhibit more like 2nd and 3rd graders.  I have taught 4th through 6th grade, so I am learning how best to help my students emotionally handle disappointment and frustration.

I decided to try out the book 7 Habits of Happy Kids after reading some posts by Little Lovely Leaders.

She has some amazing free resources in her TpT store for the 7 Habits like posters and bookmarks. I printed them out and plan on using them.

I bought the book and can't wait to read it with my students.  We are going to read one story a week.  I also bought this planner for my students that incorporates the 7 Habits.  It is absolutely fabulous.  It walks kids through the habits in a fun way and incorporates them throughout the planner. It also includes story suggestions to read with your students. Our planner looks like this one, but incorporates the 7 Habits like this one.  Somehow, they have combined some of their planner lines.  I will share some pictures later. The vendor, School Specialty, has some teacher planners, too, I may consider later.

We have had some great discussions as a class so far on being proactive versus reactive.  It has been awesome!  The last couple days when one of my students says or acts inappropriately, I ask them "Are you being proactive or reactive?" It has been really awesome to see them pull it together and change their attitude pretty quickly.  Tomorrow (today), we are going to discuss "Putting First things First."

I also really want to incorporate the habits into our literature discussions.  I am planning on making some 7 Habits Reading Graphic Organizers and maybe some writing prompts. (Scrappin Doodles has some 7 Habits Clipart I may use.) Here are a couple graphic organizer freebies I made to get students thinking about being proactive versus reactive:

Here are some links I found online with lesson ideas:
http://lcmacademy.wikispaces.com/file/view/PE+Lessons.pdf
http://www.polk-fl.net/staff/grants/pefgrants/documents/S2SGrants0708/SevenHabits.pdf

Anyone have any requests or lesson ideas on how you use the 7 habits?  I really want to check out the book The Leader in Me, as well.