The East Community Guide February 1, 2017 Vol. 2 No. 2 | Page 15

A set of 16 problem solving , life related skills , necessary to effectively operate in society and promote strategic reasoning , insightfulness , perseverance , creativity and craftsmanship . It serves to provide the individual with skills to work through real life situations that equip that person to respond using awareness ( cues ), thought , and intentional strategy in order to gain a positive
1 . Persisting : Sticking to task at hand ; Follow through to completion ; Can and do remain focused . 2 . Managing Impulsivity : Take time to consider options ; Think before speaking or acting ; Remain calm when stressed or challenged ; Thoughtful and considerate of others ; Proceed carefully . 3 . Listening with Understanding and Empathy : Pay attention to and do not dismiss another person ' s thoughts , feeling and ideas ; Seek to put myself in the other person ' s shoes ; Tell others when I can relate to what they are expressing ; Hold thoughts at a distance in order to respect another person ' s point of view and feelings . 4 . Thinking Flexibly : Able to change perspective ; Consider the input of others ; Generate alternatives ; Weigh options . 5 . Thinking about Thinking ( Metacognition ): Being aware of own thoughts , feelings , intentions and actions ; Knowing what I do and say affects others ; Willing to consider the impact of choices on myself and others . 6 . Striving for Accuracy : Check for errors ; Measure at least twice ; Nurture a desire for exactness , fidelity & craftsmanship . 7 . Questioning and Posing Problems : Ask myself , “ How do I know ?”; develop a questioning attitude ; Consider what information is needed , choose strategies to get that information ; Consider the obstacles needed to resolve . 8 . Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations : Use what is learned ; Consider prior knowledge and experience ; Apply knowledge beyond the situation in which it was learned . 9 . Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision : Strive to be clear when speaking and writing ; Strive be accurate to when speaking and writing ; Avoid generalizations , distortions , minimizations and deletions when speaking , and writing . 10 . Gathering Data through All Senses : Stop to observe what I see ; Listen to what I hear ; Take note of what I smell ; Taste what I am eating ; Feel what I am touching . 11 . Creating , Imagining , Innovating : Think about how something might be done differently from the “ norm ”; Propose new ideas ; Strive for originality ; Consider novel suggestions others might make . 12 . Responding with Wonderment and Awe : Intrigued by the world ' s beauty , nature ' s power and vastness for the universe ; Have regard for what is awe-inspiring and can touch my heart ; Open to the little and big surprises in life I see others and myself . 13 . Taking Responsible Risks : Willing to try something new and different ; Consider doing things that are safe and sane even though new to me ; Face fear of making mistakes or of coming up short and don ’ t let this stop me . 14 . Finding Humor : Willing to laugh appropriately ; Look for the whimsical , absurd , ironic and unexpected in life ; Laugh at myself when I can . 15 . Thinking Interdependently : Willing to work with others and welcome their input and perspective ; Abide by decisions the work group makes even if I disagree somewhat ; Willing to learn from others in reciprocal situations .
15 16 . Remaining Open to Continuous Learning : Open to new experiences to learn from ; Proud and humble enough to admit when don ' t know ; Welcome new information on all subjects .