Thing 1: 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Learners

I am definitely a Life Long Learner and I believe I come from a long line of life long learners. My grandmother, at 81 years old, is a huge fan of facebook and uses Skype to communicate with her sons and daughters, who are scattered around the United States. We are getting her an iPhone for Christmas because she complained that her flip phone doesn't allow her enough access to the world!

I have always been an avid reader and lover of education. I think that in order to be a great teacher you must be willing to learn from others and yourself. You must constantly expand your horizons. If you aren't, then how can you be sure you are reaching your students in the best way? 

The video on the 7 1/2 Habits of Life Long Learners was interesting! I wish it provided more detail on the Learning Contract, I am someone who always wants and needs more guidance. I couldn't get the sound to work so maybe I missed details because of this issue. Here are the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful People and Learners: 

1. Begin with the end in mind

2. Accept responsibility for your own learning

3. View problems as challenges

4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner

5. Create your own toolbox

6. Use technology to your advantage

7. Teach/mentor others

7 1/2. PLAY!!

Easiest: The Habits that come easiest to me are Teaching Others and Play. I have two younger sisters, have worked with children since 6th grade, and learn best when I teach someone something I've just discovered. I feel like teaching comes naturally to me and that I am always looking for new ways to be better at this. I am preschool teacher so playing is the at the core of teaching for me. I also love to play and have fun in my free time, so this may actually be something I need to watch to ensure it doesn't interfere with other aspects of my life!

Hardest: The most difficult Habit for me is using technology to my advantage. I am great at using the Internet to find answers to questions or using Google Maps to navigate, but I am terrible at researching new technology and figuring out how to use it in my personal and professional life. It is not something that comes naturally to me. That is why I am pursuing a Master's of Education with Technology, so that I can learn more about an area that is very difficult for me. I hope to make it easy for my students to use technology. 

I have created a Learning Contract that will help me use these Habits to my advantage!