Category Archives: Habits of Mind Body and Action

Leader or Sidekick – What Kind of Thinker Are You?

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“A man is what he thinks all day long.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

When was the last time you thought about who you are?

I don’t mean the self-affirming thinking that most of us fall prey to on occasion – you know, the kind where we tell ourselves how right and good we are relative to those maniacs on the road, or the grumpy, nonsensical others who enter our consciousness.

I mean the kind of thinking that a scientist would bring to a petri dish.

Thinking is at the heart of who we are. It’s at the heart of everything we do. Even our habits, the ones so hidden in our basal ganglia that they happen without apparent thought at all, are rooted within it.

With this in mind, shouldn’t we all take time to think about our thinking?

We believe so, which is why Think About Your Thinking is a KCS Habit. Reflection and goal-setting begin in grade one. They happen in all subjects, formally and informally, and include everything from our Super Seven learning skills, subject-based skills, extra-curricular involvement to the KCS Habits of Mind, Body and Action.

The grade 6 students, all of whom are participating in our electives pilot, have been thinking about their thinking lately. Each elective is built to develop 4-8 Habits. The Habits were explained, and then students were asked to look for evidence of each Habit, and identify whether they think they are growing or not in each. As an exercise, it is simple in design, but not so simple in execution.

Try it.

In your life, how are you doing on the following:

  • Thinking flexibly?
  • Thinking creatively?
  • Acting with empathy?
  • Showing self-control?
  • Persisting?
  • Listening to understand?
  • The other KCS Habits?

We are what we think. Honest self-reflections are just the first step in the job of being a disciplined, successful thinker. Having said that, thinking about our thinking is where it all begins.   We can take charge of our thoughts, or be their sidekick. At KCS, we’ve no doubt what we think is the best route.

What do you think?

Andrea Fanjoy,
Assistant Head, Academics

Sharing What We Know about Heroes, Big and Small

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A hero is an ordinary person who finds the strength to persevere and endure
in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
–        Christopher Reeve

Need a hero? Look no further – we’ve cornered the market at KCS.

Every student is creating a work of art that represents either a hero or heroism to them. Students in grades one to five are each working on a teacher-led project. Students in grades six to eight have designed their project entirely on their own, choosing everything about it other than the theme. Each student has his/her own hero, and their own way of showing it. The Spring Showcase from May 17th to June 6th will be the richest, most interesting, and most inspiring exhibit of Sharing What You Know at KCS ever, I’ve no doubt.

Since reading a biography of Golda Meir in high school, heroes have always nestled in the periphery of my thoughts – all the big ones, the ones who stared down gross injustice, the ones who believed humanity could be better, the ones who courageously devoted their lives to it – reminding me to get off my duff and strive to live a life that matters.

I’m also recently thinking a lot about a smaller hero. Most people don’t know him, though all KCS faculty and staff, and many of our parents do, as well as many people like us in communities across the continent. He’s small in stature, quiet and humble in demeanor. In that way alone could he be considered small. A hero for me, he speaks a common sense about raising and educating children of character that few people speak. Challenging mindsets à la mode, he devotes his life to helping parents and educators be the better people they are capable of being.

This hero, Ron Morrish, is speaking at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School on May 9th. You can also learn more about his message by visiting http://www.realdiscipline.com/ or reading his book Secrets of Discipline for Parents and Teachers: 12 Keys for Raising Responsible Children.

Heroes come in all sizes. Whether big or small, far away or right in our midst, their example has earned them a place in the periphery of everyone’s thoughts. Thanks to the artistry of our students, our Spring Showcase is KCS’s effort to make that so.

And maybe, just maybe, this occasion of Sharing What You Know might help us ordinary folk move one step closer to being heroes: people devoted to making humanity a little bit better.

Andrea Fanjoy,
Assistant Head, Academics

Do What Is Right

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“Happiness varies more with the quality of
human relationships than with income.”
– World Happiness Report, presented at the United Nations Conference on Happiness

Call us old-fashioned. For all the impassioned talk about ‘21st century skills’ and life-changing advances in technology, manners remain at the core of what makes the world go around.

Our grade fives went on a field trip the other day. At KCS we directly teach, practice, review and remind students of behavior that is right. Before leaving to get on the TTC, the grade five teachers did so.

Here is Mr. Sawyer’s account of what followed: “…the thing that stands out most in my mind was the excellent manners that the students displayed on the subway…I felt so proud watching students in our class get up and offer their seats to elderly passengers or to women with small children.  I also saw two occasions where a boy from our class offered their seat to a lady.  All of this was done without me saying a word…I had many people comment to be about the excellent manners of our students.  I agree!!!!!!!”

Positive relationships with others, nourished through the use of manners, have always mattered. Encouragingly, in a world that has sometimes forgotten the importance of this, it is starting to get the public attention it deserves.

Offering your seat, holding the door open for others, welcoming visitors to the school, and greeting others each day are but a few of the ways in which ‘doing what is right’ is practised at KCS. Practice makes perfect.

Grade fives, that was perfect.

Andrea Fanjoy,
Assistant Head, Academics
Kingsway College School

Act with Empathy

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One of our grade one classes had a big talk last week about the habit ‘Act with Empathy’. A classmate was away that day having teeth extracted, so they all thought about what they could say to express their empathy and make him feel better.  Here is what they came up with:

  • I feel bad for you.
  • I hope you feel better soon.
  • I hope your mouth doesn’t hurt.
  • I hope you come back to school tomorrow.
  • I miss you.
  • How did it feel?
  • I’m really sorry for you.
  • I hope you can come back to school tomorrow.
  • I hope you get better soon.
  • I hope your teeth get better soon.
  • I hope you get used to it.
  • I hope your teeth grow in soon.
  • I hope you could get a good rest in your bed today.
  • I hope you can have some fun tomorrow.
  • I hope you lie down in your bed so you have energy for tomorrow.
  • I hope you can go to school tomorrow and you can eat apples, your favourite.
  • You can cut up your apple.

Empathy matters, so we teach it at KCS. ‘Sharing What We Know’ also matters, so we do that too. If someone in your life could use a little empathy and you’re wondering what to say, revisit this post. The grade ones know what to do.

Andrea Fanjoy,
Assistant Head, Academics

When Perspectives Differ: Habits to Guide Us

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  • Be curious and open-minded, gathering data through all senses, sources and perspectives
  • Strive for accuracy
  • Do what is right, whether based on values or facts

From the ‘KCS Habits of Mind, Body and Action’

Life is infinitely interesting. It is full of possibilities, challenges, perspectives and life paths that differ from one person to the next. All communities, from those that are family-sized to those that span the globe, contain this variety. It’s the spice of life!

We have all been in situations where variety in perspectives is challenging. Children can be particularly transparent in showing how their perspectives differ from those of their parents! Life in a healthy democracy means we see different perspectives clashing daily. The mindset people bring to conflicting perspectives determines whether we successfully navigate and benefit from the variety, or become paralyzed with frustration.

At KCS, different perspectives confront us at every turn. Not only do we learn about them through following current research and analysis in the field, we experience and work with it daily in order to maximize learning for our students. It is an inherent part of working with people, and a critical part of trying to accomplish something significant with them.

KCS strives to follow and teach the mindset that will allow all of us to manage and thrive from variety and complexity. Essentially, we work to build this mindset by developing certain habits of mind, body and action. These habits are posted in every classroom, taught, and referred to frequently. You can also find them here. Research and expert opinion is united on the significance of the 26 habits we have embraced as the essence of KCS.

So, what habits help when perspectives differ?

Being curious and open-minded, gathering data through all senses, sources and perspectives:

It starts with open-mindedness and a curiosity that drives your mind to collect all relevant information. It takes strength of character to resist jumping to conclusions before collecting information in such an open and thorough manner. When information conflicts with long-held assumptions or self-protecting opinions, real open-mindedness requires humility and courage.  It isn’t easy.

Striving for accuracy:

When all relevant information and perspectives are gathered, the mind must strive to determine what is accurate and true. If history is any measure, we are all vulnerable to being misled. We are vulnerable to what others say, to what we want to believe, and to being lazy in thought. Striving for accuracy requires mental strength and discipline. It isn’t easy.

Acting according to what is right, whether based on values or facts:

Following the thorough and open-minded collection of data and perspectives, and the exercise of discerning what is accurate versus what is not, action is required. Most days, and in most ways, acting according to what is right is the obvious and easy final step. However, on occasion, this can be the most challenging habit of all, as it has implications for our public face, our relationships with others and how we stand up to the status quo. At times, the act of doing what’s right in the face of personal cost takes exceptional integrity. At these times, it isn’t easy.

Wouldn’t it be nice if life were easy? Who among us has never longed for simpler days? If we’re lucky, we all have some times in our lives that are free of constant challenge. However, if we’re also honest with ourselves, embracing the challenge of different perspectives is what makes our lives rich and meaningful. I wouldn’t trade my children for the freedom from challenge! And I wouldn’t trade my profession for one that is less complex. The world is what it is, and we need to be prepared to be successful in it. With the right habits of mind, body and action, we will be. With the right habits of mind, body and action in our children, the world will be in good hands.