Becoming the Change!

Changing anything is hard, especially if it is an established habit. We have to remember that even though it might be hard, it is necessary. We must change to make progress and to improve ourselves and the environment around us. How do you implement change?

As an educator, we have found a way that seems to work (for the most part) pretty well no matter what we are trying to implement in our lives, our schools, our classrooms, or our home.

1. Explore

2. Prepare

     3. Implement

4. Sustain

You might ask: What does this mean to home educators or people who are not in the educational field. In easy terms, it simply means that first you explore the system and find out what isn't working to your liking. Then you make a plan to change said issue. After that, you implement said change or new program. Finally, you sustain the new things you put into practice.

Sounds so easy, but in all actuality, it's very hard. Nobody likes change. Change is hard and we should acknowledge that it is hard and uncomfortable and make sure to allow time for adjustment and sit with it to feel it until it seems like it can be a comfortable thing. In other words, give time to process that change before pushing forward like a snow plow on a mission.

1. Explore: What change is needed? Needed meaning must happen. The child must clean up after he eats. Why is this necessary? This change is necessary because he needs to learn life skill of responsibility. This change is necessary because left over crumbs and food on the table will attract bugs.

2. Prepare: How will we carry out this change? What is our plan of action? What stumbling blocks might we encounter when we try to make this change? If this happens, then we do that. If the child doesn't clean up after himself after eating then we will give him a verbal reminder. If the child refuses to clean then we allow him to feel his emotions, we talk to him about his emotions and what he is feeling and why we need to clean. If the verbal reminder works, then we will put a visual reminder for him see. If he successfully completes this task then he may choose the next task that he wants to do. 

3. Now that we have a plan of action, we start to implement it into the daily routine. What steps will we take to implement it? Discussion, pictures, stories, modeling. Choose any an all methods to prepare and start to make this change from a bad habit to a good  habit. It takes 28 consistent days to make a lasting habit (good or bad).

4. Now that the change has happened and seems to be going good, we need to make sure that we acknowledge and support the effort to keep the change going. Ongoing evaluation and meeting new needs that pop up will help you to keep the change you have made on a daily basis.

Good Luck and I wish you well on your journey of change! Teacher Christy