The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Leader in Me program is being implemented at South Loop Elementary School.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
1. Be Proactive means to take responsibility for your choices and behavior. Habit 1 is the key to all habits; this is why it comes first. Be proactive says, “I am in charge of my own life. I am responsible for whether I am happy or sad. I can choose how I react to other people and situations. I am in the driver’s seat.” One can achieve this through thinking before acting upon decisions.
2. Begin with the end in mind means to think about how you would like something to turn out before you get started. For example, before doing a puzzle, you look at the cover of the box, starting with the end in mind. This is best represented in the creation of a mission statement for your children’s future.
3. Put first things first means to decide what is most important and to take care of that first. Thinking about what needs to be done tomorrow or by the end of the week can be overwhelming. Learning to think of which things are most important and taking care of them first alleviate stress one might encounter under pressure. This is can be easily accomplished by using a planner or to-do-list that highlights important due dates for your children and yourself.
4. Think Win-Win is the belief that everyone can win. It’s not me or you – it is both of us. It is a belief that there are enough good things for everyone; it is an abundant way of thinking. Think win-win means being happy for others when good things happen to them. This is best represented through positive language and recognizing achievements of your child whether small or big, in other words, plant a seed and watch it grow.
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood means that it is better to listen first and talk second. By taking the time to listen to another person, you reach a higher level of communication. This habit is best approached by introducing listening as a skill that should be practiced. Learning to listen without interrupting and learning to listen with your ears, your eyes, and your heart will help children build a foundation for habit 5.
6. Synergize is when two or more people work together to create a better solution that either would have thought of alone. It’s not your way or my way, but a better way. For example, synergy happens in nature when a flock of geese heads south for the winter. They fly in a V formation because due to the updraft, the entire flock can fly farther than if each bird flew alone.
7. Sharpen the Saw means to have balance in your life. There is a story of a man who was sawing down a tree and not making a lot of progress. When a passerby asked him why he didn’t stop sawing to sharpen his saw, he remarked that he was too busy sawing. We are more productive when we are in balance – body, brain, heart, and soul. Just like four tires on a car, if one area is being ignored or overused, the rest will feel the results.
1. Be Proactive means to take responsibility for your choices and behavior. Habit 1 is the key to all habits; this is why it comes first. Be proactive says, “I am in charge of my own life. I am responsible for whether I am happy or sad. I can choose how I react to other people and situations. I am in the driver’s seat.” One can achieve this through thinking before acting upon decisions.
2. Begin with the end in mind means to think about how you would like something to turn out before you get started. For example, before doing a puzzle, you look at the cover of the box, starting with the end in mind. This is best represented in the creation of a mission statement for your children’s future.
3. Put first things first means to decide what is most important and to take care of that first. Thinking about what needs to be done tomorrow or by the end of the week can be overwhelming. Learning to think of which things are most important and taking care of them first alleviate stress one might encounter under pressure. This is can be easily accomplished by using a planner or to-do-list that highlights important due dates for your children and yourself.
4. Think Win-Win is the belief that everyone can win. It’s not me or you – it is both of us. It is a belief that there are enough good things for everyone; it is an abundant way of thinking. Think win-win means being happy for others when good things happen to them. This is best represented through positive language and recognizing achievements of your child whether small or big, in other words, plant a seed and watch it grow.
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood means that it is better to listen first and talk second. By taking the time to listen to another person, you reach a higher level of communication. This habit is best approached by introducing listening as a skill that should be practiced. Learning to listen without interrupting and learning to listen with your ears, your eyes, and your heart will help children build a foundation for habit 5.
6. Synergize is when two or more people work together to create a better solution that either would have thought of alone. It’s not your way or my way, but a better way. For example, synergy happens in nature when a flock of geese heads south for the winter. They fly in a V formation because due to the updraft, the entire flock can fly farther than if each bird flew alone.
7. Sharpen the Saw means to have balance in your life. There is a story of a man who was sawing down a tree and not making a lot of progress. When a passerby asked him why he didn’t stop sawing to sharpen his saw, he remarked that he was too busy sawing. We are more productive when we are in balance – body, brain, heart, and soul. Just like four tires on a car, if one area is being ignored or overused, the rest will feel the results.
Room 221's Class Mission (by the kids of Room 221)
Leaders of room 221 will have fun, plan and achieve goals, believe in each other, and never give up.
Students' Personal Mission
Each student created their own personal mission. Please ask them about it. They should be able to recite it.