North Augusta Elementary is proud to announce the "Habit Heroes" for January! This month’s honorees have demonstrated an exceptional understanding and application of Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.
This important habit teaches students that it is better to listen first and speak second. As the saying goes, "You have two ears and one mouth for a reason—you should listen twice as much as you talk!" Listening sincerely to others helps build relationships, fosters understanding, and creates a positive learning environment.
When we listen to others, we typically do so at one of four levels:
Ignoring – Not paying attention to the speaker at all.
Pretending – Giving the impression of listening without truly engaging.
Selective Listening – Only hearing parts of the conversation that interest us.
Attentive Listening – Actively focusing on what is being said.
However, the most effective way to listen is through empathic listening—fully understanding another person’s thoughts and feelings before responding. This type of listening requires both kindness and courage. True communication begins when we listen with the intent to understand rather than simply waiting for our turn to reply.
Studies show that only 10% of communication comes from words, while 30% is conveyed through tone of voice and 60% through body language. By practicing Habit 5, students at North Augusta Elementary are developing essential life skills in effective communication, empathy, and relationship-building.
We commend our January Habit Heroes for embodying these values by:
Listening to others’ ideas and feelings.
Trying to see things from others’ perspectives.
Avoiding interruptions and distractions while listening.
Speaking confidently while being respectful of others.
Making eye contact when engaging in conversation.
Congratulations to our outstanding students for leading by example and inspiring their peers to become better listeners and communicators! Keep up the great work, Habit Heroes!