Habitudes

Habitudes is a new curriculum launched last year for middle school Advisories. Created by Dr. Tim Elmore, Habitudes uses stories and images to help get conversations rolling about what it means to form valuable leadership habits. Habitudes teaches students how to “overcome complex problems through creative persistence, capitalize on personal strengths to be career-ready upon graduation, develop critical thinking skills that produce better life choices,” (growingleaders.com/habitudes/) and more. 

Sitting down with two previous 8th graders (now freshman in high school), Lily Nelson Flores and Adaoma Okoro, we had the chance to hear their thoughts on this new curriculum. 

When asked what they like most about Habitudes, Lily said, “I like it because [...] there’s something we’re doing and getting active with it.” Habitudes isn’t centered around a teacher giving a lecture each week—student involvement is critical. “We have discussions about it,” Adaoma chimed in, “so we’re not just listening—we also get to be included in the conversation.” 

One of the Habitudes that both Lily and Adaoma expressed as really sticking with them involved comparing a vampire to a doctor/surgeon. “Sometimes people take things for different reasons,” Lily said. “The vampire took blood for selfish reasons, and the doctor was taking it because he was saving other people.” Adaoma also brought up a lesson about football and the lesson it taught on “having other people in your life” since you can’t be a football team all on your own—each position has a unique role to play. “God created us to have other people to help us,” Adaoma said. 

When asked what is something surprising they’ve learned about themselves through studying Habitudes, Lily expressed how it’s really opened her eyes to the fact that you truly matter to everyone, no matter if you’re best friends with them or if you just pass them in the hall every day. You’re there and you’re a part of things. Adaoma agreed that Habitudes has helped her realize that you don’t have to be best friends with everyone and that’s ok. 

Habitudes are a key component to weekly middle school Advisory. Providing students with a framework for thinking through life’s difficulties and scaffolding conversations in a way that supports and is uplifting is just another way we’re empowering growth through MCA’s middle school experience.