3rd Habit:  Put First Things First - Work First, Then Play Story number 3 encourages and teaches children to identify the most important task that they need to finish or engage in such as in this story- studying for a test. According to Sean Covey, putting first things first is hard.  In fact, of all the habits, it is the hardest one to keep up. Have you ever felt the same?  I do.  Often, when I do not write down my most important task or job for the day, I can get twisted and distracted and tend to do whatever comes up along my way, or get caught up on social media.  We are all guilty of that one way or another. Perhaps, we could learn from this too, and model the behavior to our children. The following questions are up for discussion after listening to the story.  Do let us know how this story and dialogue go, follow us on Instagram: smap_early_years or email us at [email protected] Up For Discussion: 1.  Why did Pokey put off studying for his spelling test? What did he do instead? 2.  How did Pokey feel the night before the test? 3. What does procrastinate mean? What did Sophie teach Pokey about procrastination? 4. How did Pokey feel after he studied all week and aced his spelling test? 5. Why is it so important to put first things first? Extension: What are the most important things that you or your child must finish within the day or week? Create a list and plan out how to achieve this.

Is teaching letter of the week effective? How do you facilitate early literacy at home or in school? In our first episode of Tuesday Talk - we will discuss why isolated letter teaching instruction or the Letter of the Week approach may not be the most effective approach in teaching or in facilitating early literacy at home or in school. Here, we also suggest the acronym EOC or Environment, Observe, Communicate to facilitate early literacy. 

Habit 2: Have a Plan  Up for Discussion 1.  What do you think of Goob’s plan?  2.  What do you think about Goob and Jumper?  3.  How did Jumper spend his money? How did Goob spend his money? Who spent their money in a better way?  4. What guided Goob in spending his money?  5. How was Good able to help Jumper in the end? 6. Why is it important to plan ahead?

Have you ever heard your child/children complain about being bored?  I bet you do! Have them listen to this story and engage them in a dialogue... Up for discussion: 1. Why was Sammy bored? 2. Whose fault was it that Sammy was bored? Was it Sophie's fault? Pokey's? Lily's? Goob's? Jumper's? Granny's? or somebody else's? 3. What did Allie's Granny teach Sammy about having fun? 4. Do you ever feel bored? If so, what can you do about it? 5.  Who is in charge of the choices you make: you or somebody else? 6. How about you, what do you like to do?   7.  What will you when you get bored next time? Create a plan: Suggestions-  Try doing something today that you have always been scared to do