One of the most influential books I have read is Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book defines a system of improvement that is based on the habits we make and the compounding effect of those habits.
It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the value of making small improvements on a daily basis. Too often, we convince ourselves that massive success requires massive action.
James Clear
This really got me thinking about my personal goals. No matter where life has taken me, I have had two goals…get a doctorate degree and write a book. I have literally had these goals since I was five years old. Reading this book hit me square between my eyes:
Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. …The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do. Each time you write a page, you are a writer.
James Clear
I reflected intensely on my goal to write my own book and what that looks like. The truth is, I will never publish a book if I don’t start writing…thus this blog was born. It won’t be perfect, but I’ll be writing!
What if we approached big ideas we want learners to retain in the same way? How can we structure instruction to guide them to the end goal through small habits that provide evidence of meaningful learning? If we want them to learn, we must help them build the habit of learning!
