The practice of habit training has a long and ancient pedigree. Aristotle, for instance, viewed habits as the means by which a person acquired virtues. The vision of the best life has been a hallmark of philosophical thought ever since. But far from being some kind of esoteric thought exercise, habit training is highly practical and a valuable tool in the classroom.
The Bible likewise casts a vision for consistent and regular training in the virtues of the faith. Proverbs 22:6 advises that we “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Paul similarly advises Timothy to train himself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). The tradition of spiritual disciplines captures the heart of training as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Charlotte Mason, the British educational philosopher of the late Victorian era, placed habit training at the core of her philosophy. Her famous dictum, “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life” encapsulates her view that a person who gains the tools of self-discipline or self-control is able to live with freedom and agency. This kind of person has the maturity to be a productive citizen in society.
The powerful practice of habit training can be implemented in any classroom or school. Habit training improves the quality of student learning by attaching inspiring ideas to daily routines without succumbing to the manipulations of conventional classroom management tactics.
Why Habit Training?
If you believe that children are full persons, then you will find habit training a superior method than typical classroom management or parenting discipline. Instead of manipulating behaviors to serve the teacher’s or parent’s needs, habit training seeks to benefit the child, providing them with inspiring ideas to promote their well being and future happiness.
The empowerment of student growth comports with the classical focus on the development of virtues. In addition, recent research has highlighted the benefits of habit formation, delineating the neurology and mechanics of acquiring good habits. It’s surprising, then, to find how relevant Charlotte Mason’s thoughts are, given that she wrote her philosophy of education over 100 years ago!
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The Habit Training Planner provides a way for you to map out the key ideas and plan for implementing a habit in your classroom. Click the button below to download the planner for free.
Resources on the Topic of Habit Formation
Habit Formation: You, Your Plastic Mind, and Your Internet
Christ Our Habitation: A Consideration of Spiritual Habit Training in Education
Excellence Comes by Habit: Aristotle on Moral Virtue
Charlotte Mason and the Liberal Arts Tradition, Part 2: Educating the Whole Person
The Art of Learning: Four Principles from Josh Waitzkin’s Book
The Search for Happiness, Part 2: The Way of Wisdom
Rules for Schools?: An Interaction with Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life (Part 1)
Watch an in-depth training session on how to apply Charlotte Mason’s method of habit training in your classroom. Dr. Egan briefly reviews the basics, and then takes you to new levels of understanding that has practical benefits for students of all ages.
Learn best practices to cultivate attention, piety, penmanship, and other specific habits. Whether you are a classroom teacher, administrator or homeschool parent, you will find helpful tools to take your craft of teaching to the next level.