Thing #1

       So this is my first post for this assignment and I went through and reviewed the 7 and 1/2 Habits online tutorial that was developed by the training specialists at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. I found myself agreeing with some of the ideas that successful lifelong learns believe but also disagreeing with some as well.
       For instance, I agree with the idea that attitude is everything. It's hard to make someone learn who just doesn't want to. The old saying, "You can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink," is true when it comes to a student's attitude towards learning. I also liked the, "I Will. I Can. I Do." Mentality. Having a positive belief in one's self makes the learning experience easier and more enjoyable. It's also our duties as teachers, to give students who don't have that kind of confidence in themselves, to give them positive reinforcement and feedback to help boost their confidence.
       The idea that I didn't really agree with was, "It's never too late (or too soon) to learn something." I think that in some instances it IS too soon to learn certain things. For example, we're not going to have our Kindergarten and First graders learn Sex Ed. or the graphicness of the Holocaust and genocides. But other than that aspect of the slide show I liked the general premise of it all.
       Furthermore, I think the habits that I would find easiest for myself to do are Habits 6 and 7 and of course 7 and a half. Habit 6 is using technology to my advantage. I feel like I already do a good job of that now. For example, I'm writing this assignment from my cell phone using the blogger app because it's more convenient and faster and spell checks every word as I type it. Habit 7 is teaching and mentoring someone else. I find that I learn best when I'm teaching the information to other people because I makes up ways to help them remember and in turn, help me remember also. And habit 7 and a half is play and that's easy for everyone to do.
       The habits that I think I might have the hardest time with are Habits 4 and 2. Habit 4 is "Having confidence in yourself as a learner." All my life I've thought I was smart, but have always been surrounded by people who were smarter and did better than I did. When I'd make a good grade on an assignment and they'd make a better grade, it would really lower my confidence. Habit 2 is accepting responsibility for my own learning. Growing up I always saw learning and going to school like something I HAD to do. With that mindset I always thought whether or not I learned was my teachers and parents responsibility, not mine, so that would be a whole mindset that I would have to shift away from which would be hard to do after 20 years.