Healthy Habit Building for Teens

Does your teen need to develop some healthy habits to cope with the pressures of high school? Is your child heading off to college soon and you're worried about their ability to say "no" to destructive things? Could your learner use some help understanding the benefits of planning and organization? This course is focused on developing healthy habits that teens can use for the rest of their lives. Goal setting, effective communication, building self-esteem, and many more positive, empowering, healthy habits will be addressed throughout this course. (see learning goals) 

This course spans 12 weeks. There will be no live meetings. Each Sunday by 9 a.m. central time, I will post a video introducing the week's topic. Students will have one chapter of reading to complete for the week. On Tuesday by 9 a.m., I will post a text related question for students to consider and answer as they read. Students will submit their work privately to the teacher. (Question example: In this week's chapter, you learned about Personal Back Accounts. What withdrawals do you most often make from your PBA? How can you start to make more deposits?) On Thursday by 9 a.m., I will post a public assignment. Students will submit a post or video about their "baby step" for the week. Each chapter ends with small steps that readers can make toward developing healthy habits, and I will challenge students to complete one step. Students will then share the step they took with the rest of the class. This will help with accountability in actually taking some baby steps as we read about them. All work for the week should be completed by Saturday evening. 

Throughout this course, I will be sharing my own experiences with students. I have developed some healthy habits to replace unhealthy habits, but I also still have work to do. I will post my own baby steps that I take throughout the course, and I will share my own thoughts about the readings. I hope that this will help my students feel comfortable enough to share honestly with me, and I hope this will encourage students to participate!

Students do not need any prior knowledge to take this course. 

The following is a course outline.

Week 1: Read chapter 1- What are habits? Overview of 7 habits.
Week 2: Read chapter 2- Defining paradigms and principles.
Week 3: Read chapter 3- Comparing how you feel about yourself to a bank account. How do you make withdrawals and deposits?
Week 4: Read chapter 4- How to be proactive versus reactive.
Week 5: Read chapter 5- Goal setting and aligning actions with goals.
Week 6: Read chapter 6- Prioritizing the important things.
Week 7: Read chapter 7- Withdrawals and deposits in relationship bank accounts.
Week 8: Read chapter 8- Everyone can experience success with a win-win attitude.
Week 9: Read chapter 9- Listen first, then speak. Effective communication.
Week 10: Read chapter 10- Working together for the benefit of all.
Week 11: Read chapter 11- Taking care of your mind and body.
Wee 12: Read chapter 12- Wrap up!

*This course will not provide therapy for students. Students will read about tips for developing healthy habits and will discuss what they read with other learners. It is not necessary for students to share their feelings.*