As I thought about all of the information from these first two classes, I knew I wanted to make a change in my teaching for my students and myself.

The idea of presenting information to my students simply to have them regurgitate it back to me on a test was not something I wanted to do again.

As I listened to Angela Maiers being interviewed on the Edu-All Stars podcast, I was inspired by how she talked so passionately about what she was doing in the field of education.

I decided that her book, Classroom Habitudes, was worth checking into. After reading the book, I believe that it will be a great guide for me to change my own thinking and teaching.

Maiers states that in order to be successful, our learners need to be critical, be creative and be strategic. Not only will they be successful, they will become lifelong learners.

As I read the book, I started to make a plan to change. I needed to be reasonable in how much I could accomplish in one school year. I decided that I would introduce all of the habitudes and the lessons outlined in the second chapter of the book to make the kids aware of what they are. As the year continues we will focus on curiosity and self-awareness.

Maiers defines curiosity as a mindset and a willingness to explore the internal and external worlds by asking questions, seeking answers , and engaging in a wide rage of person and interpersonal activities.

She tells her students that curiosity makes life more interesting. It keeps the brain active and awake, it keeps us open and ready for new ideas, and it keeps life and learning exciting.

This section of the book also has lessons on how and when to ask questions. Just teaching students to question is not enough. We have to teach students to be aware of asking the right questions at the right time.

The other Habitude I will hit on this year is self-awareness. Self-awareness provides a system of checks and balances that equips individuals to understand themselves and to make conscious choices and to deliberate decisions about the direction and quality of their lives.

Throughout these lessons students will explore their strengths and weaknesses as well as what type of learner they all. All of these things help them to understand who they are and advocate for themselves in the learning process.

The lesson I am most looking forward to is the heart mapping lesson. They will reflect on people, places, events, anything that has had an effect on their heart. As the reflect they create a graphic representation of all the things that matter to the student.

Throughout each chapter, Maiers has long lists of resources for students and teachers that dig deeper into each habitude. From the website listed in the book there are print offs for the lessons and more activities. Overall it makes the change I am trying to make very doable.

Along with the lessons, I am planning on doing more purposeful reflection. When conducting action research, Rust and Clark suggest setting aside ten minutes a day to write. Write about anything. From there, questions may arise or those "ah-ha!" moments may come forward. The hope is for me to continue to do this diligent ten minute writing through December of this year, but I hope to turn it into a habit this year and the years to come.

My students will have a habitude notebook which will be used for them to reflect on anything they notice about themselves as we work through our lessons on curiosity and self-awareness. I will also be participating in these reflection times so I can learn more about who I am and how I view the habitudes.

In the first chapter, Maiers talks about a man named Seth Godin. He is a funny and inspirational speaker who wants you to go out into the world and do something. In the book, Maiers highlights how he talks about genius.

He says that genius is misunderstood as a bolt of lightning.

And,

Genius is the act of solving a problem in a way no one has solved it before.

A genius is someone with exceptional abilities and the insight to find the not so obvious solution to a problem; a genius looks at something that others are stuck on and gets the world unstuck.

I have decided to print off a few of this quotes to post in my room for my students to see and read everyday. We all have genius in us, but sometimes we need to be reminded.

The plan I have put together is for this year but there is so much more I can do with this book. I want to teach the other habitudes.

Next year I plan on teaching curiosity and self-awareness, but I will add passion and imagination.

By the third year, I am hoping to have a regular routine of habitudes lessons that I will be able to incorporate all seven in one school year.

I will continue to try and do purposeful reflections.

Within the next year I also would like to read Seth Godin's book Linchpin: Are you Indispensable?

This genius hour project was about making a plan for change. A change in my thinking A change in my teaching. A change in who I am. I think I am off to a good start.