As you know, our classroom is part of Einstein Elementary School’s Leadership Pilot. We have been working to build a culture of personal leadership in our classroom by learning about and applying Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. So far, we have focused on Habits 1 and 2 - Being Proactive and Beginning with the End in Mind.
I wanted to take a moment to let you know what we have, specifically, been learning with regard to leadership in the first two months of Kindergarten.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my classroom’s mission statement. I look for ways to be a good citizen.
In addition to hearing your child use the phrases “Be Proactive” and “Begin with the End in Mind”, hopefully, you are hearing them use words and phrases like choices, responsibility, “stop and think”, goals, and “sticking with it”.
Please continue to encourage your child to be a leader by using some of this language at home. By creating a common language and expectation at school and home, your child will have a greater understanding of what these habits are and how they apply to their lives.
Below are a couple of ideas on how to help practice the first two habits at home...
Habit 1:
Be Proactive
Part of being proactive is stopping to think before we act. Sometimes, we react to a situation immediately, without taking time to think about the results of our actions.
Role-play different situations with your child that will provide them the opportunity to think before they act.
Habit 2:
Begin With the End in Mind
Having an end in mind helps your child be able to have a purpose for their goal and for the specific steps that will help them achieve it.
As a family (or with an individual child), choose an area that needs improvement. The area of improvement, or the broad goal, becomes your end in mind. Then think of specific steps that will lead to achieving this goal.
Here are some book titles that reinforce Habits 1 and 2:
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Vorst
Salt in His Shoes by Michael Jordan
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to bringing you information about Habit 3 soon!
I wanted to take a moment to let you know what we have, specifically, been learning with regard to leadership in the first two months of Kindergarten.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my classroom’s mission statement. I look for ways to be a good citizen.
In addition to hearing your child use the phrases “Be Proactive” and “Begin with the End in Mind”, hopefully, you are hearing them use words and phrases like choices, responsibility, “stop and think”, goals, and “sticking with it”.
Please continue to encourage your child to be a leader by using some of this language at home. By creating a common language and expectation at school and home, your child will have a greater understanding of what these habits are and how they apply to their lives.
Below are a couple of ideas on how to help practice the first two habits at home...
Habit 1:
Be Proactive
Part of being proactive is stopping to think before we act. Sometimes, we react to a situation immediately, without taking time to think about the results of our actions.
Role-play different situations with your child that will provide them the opportunity to think before they act.
Habit 2:
Begin With the End in Mind
Having an end in mind helps your child be able to have a purpose for their goal and for the specific steps that will help them achieve it.
As a family (or with an individual child), choose an area that needs improvement. The area of improvement, or the broad goal, becomes your end in mind. Then think of specific steps that will lead to achieving this goal.
Here are some book titles that reinforce Habits 1 and 2:
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Vorst
Salt in His Shoes by Michael Jordan
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to bringing you information about Habit 3 soon!