Happy Habit New Year

It is a new year. Time for reviewing the 7 Habits to help develop a stronger understanding of the habits within yourself and your students. These habits are those principles which shape our character and build strong roots.
This can and should be done not just a half hour set aside a day or on Fridays, but intertwined within your classroom environment and clearly a part of each lesson taught. It may mean thinking outside the box, looking deeper for ideas online or in articles or book, reaching out to others for help, but it will be well worth it.

 Below are just a few ideas with a project based learning approach if you wish to take part. ( I have been reading Ron Clark's book, The End of Molasses Classes and in explaining core principles and values two things he said stuck with me:
" Make it HAPPEN" and "push yourself to be innovative beyond your imagination"

Over the next 7 weeks, review the 7 habits with your students and parents. (The Annotated Teachers Edition of The Leader in Me Activity Guide,which was purchased for each teacher K-2, is a great start to understanding the habits at a deeper level and seeing how they can be integrated into other subjects).

At the end of the 7 weeks students or classrooms may enter the " I'm a Leader Inside and Out" project using their understanding of the Habits and how it shows in and through them to create a poster that tells others how they lead. (Project Based Learning)

So, what is project-based learning? One definition of project-based learning is a meaning-oriented and student-centered instructional approach that allows students to discover content, engage in higher-level thinking, make personal connections, construct their own meaning, and reflect on what they have learned.

So, to begin planning for your Project Based Learning Project start with  a BIG Question.

What makes you 7 Habit Strong on the inside and out?

Next, develop strong standard based lessons across the curriculum that help the students to discover the answer to this question, make connections to their own actions, define the habits in their own language, and reflect on what they have learned before they create their final project to show others the true meaning of being Habit Strong.

Some ideas for doing this are listed below... but there is no one way to create these lessons. It must first be built and taught through your classroom environment. Then, taught in an engaging manner that helps the students to discover a deeper understanding of each habit.

• Weekend News (Write to inform) where the students must report on something that they did or saw over the weekend and what habit it represented and how it affected others around them. (Helps them make personal connections to the 7 Habits) Here is a sample scoring key.

• Read about or research people to see what leadership skills they showed and which habits they had on the inside and out. ( I watched the movie this break, Concussion and Will Smith played the Dr. (based on a true story) who fought all obstacles to bring knowledge and safety to others. It was not easy, but it was the right thing to do. He was Habit strong on the inside and out!.. What person would appeal to your students to study... maybe the boy who started the lemonaide stand http://www.alexslemonade.org/about-alexs-lemonade-stand-foundation-childhood-cancer, or kid president, or who else.. start looking.. think outside the box.. be innovative! (Thea used one last year I think it was called Sarah? Tap into her nugget of knowledge)
• Use lots of literature as you ask and answer questions and discover the author's purpose to develop a deeper understanding of the 7 Habits. (Check out the Professional Library Section just created).. don't be afraid to read deeper books with your students. (Salt in My Shoes by Michael Jordan's sister, Charlie Anderson, Red Balloon, Fly Away Home, The Mitten Tree are a few that come to mind. 
• Create or search for songs for each of the habits. Tap into the different learning style of your students.  (Visual, Auditory, etc.) (Paula's class sings ones for all or most of the habits)
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• Even Mathematical... think hard and see how the 7 habits apply to math. How can you develop Think Win Win in math? Maybe: different ways to solve the same problem, more than one word that means the same thing... subtract, take away, difference? 
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• Act out skits depicting the 7 habits. (We did this at our first training)

• Utilize a new leadership tool with your class as you dive deeper into reviewing the habits. Stop and Think Chart, Synergizer, Circle of Control to name a few. 

What are you waiting for... get with some fellow teachers & coaches, start looking up ideas (but be sure to make them your own... better than ever.. awesome enough to make an impact on your students... innovative.. (in other words.. better than TPT, can't be carried out with a worksheet or maybe even better!) 

Project Based Learning Poster Guidelines: "I'm a Leader Inside and Out" project using their understanding of the Habits and how it shows in and through them to create a poster that tells others how they too can lead. 

1. Entries may be created by individual students, groups or classrooms after developing a deeper understanding of each of the 7 habits. (7 Weeks)

2. All projects must be created at school. (others may come in to assist)

3. 8 x 10 (landscape or portrait, any color, any type of paper or material)

4. Any medium may be used (crayons, pencils, markers, paint, etc)

5. Must be turned in on time and meet all guidelines. Due Date: Feb. 19

This is not a contest... it is a project based learning activity (see definition above).. all who take part gain more than a certificate or a prize... they gain a deeper understanding of the principles that help the leader in them shine through and the privilege to teach others how to be habit strong on the inside and out! (and the final projects will displayed in a fun and unique way)

Books that share messages that will empower students to LEAD

Check out this list of books and blurbs that will help your students to empower others and LEAD!

http://childrensbooksguide.com/100-most-inspiring

Kid President Advice for being Habit Strong

Watch these Kid President Videos and then try your hand at writing and video taping your own. Be sure to share them with this blog! Find your voice to share what is important.

Kindergarten is not too young!

Kindergarten used Habit 5 and 6 to research and report to you about Thanksgiving! What a great way for them to share their knowledge with others. Thanks Mrs. J. Hollingsworth.

The Habits are Dynamite

Here is the unvailing of Dogwood 2nd Grade singing Dynamite. 7 Habit Style.

Mrs. Green with our 2nd Grade Leaders

Below are last year videos of LIM Night. Start thinking about what we can accomplish this year at LIM Night.

Thanksgiving Use of Leader Ship Tools

Below is a terrific use of some Leadership Tools to help kids expand their depth of knowledge using Thanksgiving as the theme. Thanks Melissa Hollingsworth for sharing.


This Thanksgiving plus/delta will be a good organizer to help the children make comparisons.  Also, I think I'm going to do a "Circle of Control" with them for kids back then and today to allow the kids to easily see what has changed over the years. Using the Circle of Control organizer helps students to see things from a clearer point of view. It will be interesting to see what they are thinking after this activity as far as what they have/ don't have, etc.

Children of the Past Plus Delta

Sharpen the SAW

I learned this version of rock, paper, scissors years ago at an inservice and could not recall the third animal. Thanks to my ability to synergize (and use other's strengths) I now can share this idea with you all. It is so fun. Thanks Sarah J. for sharing your brain.

Bear, Fish, Mosquitto

Dogwood Fun Run

Dogwood Student Leaders put first things first to prepare, practice and share the word about our Service Learning Project. Dogwood's First Annual Fun Run for the VFW.

Click to viewClick to view commercial

End of 1st Quarter. Lots to shine about!

Click to view video

Learn a 7 Habits Song

Video tape your class singing a song as you sharpen the saw and share with (this blog) or others to put a smile on their face. Singing is a sure way to keep the 7 habits in our minds, hearts and souls.

Plus Delta Leadership Tool

Plus Delta is used for students or teachers to record positive behavior (Plus) and set goals (Delta) for areas needing work. Thanks Mrs. Eshenroder for sharing.

Misssouri Day

Missouri Day is the third Wednesday in October. This is a great time to study some leaders righthere in our state. See the links below to research some local leaders.
 IF YOU DO OTHER ACTIVITIES AROUND MO DAY PLEASE SHARE THEM ON THE BLOG SO OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM YOU AS WELL.

Famous leaders who lived in Missouri


More about Missouri and it's leaders for kids

The Missouri Symbols represent many great animals, plants, songs, and history. Study some of these symbols to find out more about our state. (Habit 5). Some classrooms studied (Seek first to understand) about many symbols and used Comic Life to show what they learned. (Then to be understood)  Another great technology tool is Blabberize. Copy the Missouri symbol and haeve the kids record what they learned about each.

Write or email our local MO representatives (Diane Franklin and Rocky Miller). They did  a very detailed presentation last year about the MO flag and what and why things were on it!

Missouri Symbols

Sharpen the Saw with the MO song... Waltz!

Christopher Columbus Sharpen the Saw

This is a detailed video with lots of facts (easy to understand) about Columbus. One suggestion is to Sharpen the Saw by adding vocabulary understanding to the brain by  having the kids listen to video to find out meaning of words such as: Indies, journey, Spain, Names of his ships, etc. 

Sharpen the Saw with a song to remember what you learned about Columbus

Enjoy a healthy snack for Columbus Day!

Sing a song.

This blog has a lot of easy and fun project learning activities around math, science and social studies. Great for PreK and K ( I could see them beefed up a tad for 1 and 2) Come on Sharpen the SAW (balance is better... begin by integrating social studies and science in your daily lessons)

http://kindergals.blogspot.com/2012/09/columbus-day-is-coming.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+Kindergals+(KinderGals)

Mrs. Libby's First Graders Blabberize using Habit 5

This week in Journeys we discussed what we can learn from the character's actions and feelings in a story. Students synergized by reading a story then filling out a story map about the characters. They then grouped their thoughts and created a blabberize telling about their character and the lesson they learned. This is a sample of how 7 Habits can be brought into lessons you are already teaching. The kids had to use Habit 5, Seek First to Understand (diving into the text to identify the character's action, infer the character's feelings through pictures and words as well as the Author's Message), Then to be understood (the team worked together (Habit 6) to decide what the most important information was that they wanted to share with others in the Blabberize.

See links to get a peek. and This one too.

Habit 5 Book Ideas

Alphabet books are a great way to share Habit 5 with Pre-K and Kindergarten. They must seek first to understand what the letter looks like and what sound the letter makes before guessing what might be on that abc page.!
Q is for Duck is a higher level of the same concept. Terrific use of analogies for grades 1 and 2 as they Seek First to Understand... then to be understood (trying to write their own page for the book)

Who Stole the Mona Lisa is a fun story from the perspective of the painting. (Great CCSS). The kids can take on the perspective of  objects and write poems or stories about how they would feel. Blabberize is a great technology tool to share these projects electronically. (See Cheryl or I for help with this project if interested)

Storm is Coming is one of my favorite predictable stories with first grade. They must use their schema and dive into the different character's perspective to know Who Storm is?  

Habit 5 is a wonderful opportunity to really dive into vocabulary and multiple meanings of words. This is a fun story,

Pre K and K kids love this story. They will go back and forth as they try to see other's perspective of the pictures in this text. Is it a duck or a rabbit? Seek First.... 

Cooperatative Learning... Synergy Style

Divide the class into even teams. They get the same number of sheets of tinfoil and pipe cleaners. There goal is to use ALL of the supplies to create one artistic design within the given time.

The rules are: They must use all supplies and each person must have a role in the project. So they will need to find each others strengths and work together... because Together is Better,

(Some roles might be, but are not limited to: Time keeper, designer (sketch it on paper), encourager, builder, boss (make sure everyone is helping), etc.

Book Picks for Habit 6

There are lots of great stories about teamwork and finding and using your strength. If you have a lesson to share please post it in the comment section.

HABIT 6 SYNERGIZE

Click to view some videos on teamwork (synergy)

Miss Jenkin's Habit 5 Pick

Habit 5 Book Idea Click to see more

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Pictures of LAKER leadership around the walls of Dogwood

Dogwood Classes Sing out!

Ask Mrs. Allen's Kindergarten or Mrs. Cloyd's 2nd graders to teach your class their 7 habit songs.
Check out this video

Seek First To Understand Friendship

Here is a clip from the movie UP that shares lead in to conversation about what makes a friend. Great follow up is UP UP and AWAY with friendship. Fill their "hot air" balloons instead of their buckets.

Here is a great story for ART to share! 

Think Win Win

Click for Song This song is to the tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame Some great books for Habit 4 include: The Butter Battle Book Alexander and the Wind up Mouse The Rainbow Fish The Doorbell Rang The Very Clumsy Click Beetle Sheila Rae the Brave Hooray for Wodney Wat

Habit 5 Seek First to Understand, then to be understood

Read the fun loving story kids will wait to find out what happens... Enemy Pie, to teach children that is important to really try to get to know people before we judge them. Here are some suggestions for after reading. Create a recipe for Friendship. Make plastic bag chef hats with bands that say.. Cooking up friendship. Make Friend Wanted Posters

Sharpen the Saw in Math

As you build that number sense and what makes ten, why not add a little balance and SHARPEN THE SAW Here is a few You-tube links to help kids learn these basic facts. Teen # with as a group of 10 and ___ extra ones

Pre-K Count to 10 Chicken Dance

Zero the Hero

Habit 3 Put First Things First

Habit 3 is part of the "roots" Students need to understand that being proactive (positive attitude), having goals, and prioritizing things in our life are essential to growth.

The BIG Rocks activity is a great visual for students to see that when we put our Big Rocks first there is more room for little rocks (wants).  This helps them to prioritize and plan so that they are more responsible leaders.

You can use the Big Rocks video on Leader in Me, model in your classroom or have kids try it out as a cooperative learning activity. Where students are given 5 large rocks to label (come to a consensus) and a cup full of small pebbles. The students must figure out the best way to fit all the rocks in the container. After finding the solution have the students relate it to our lives. The BIG Rocks are are most important tasks to put first, the small rocks are all of the other things. 

Rock Climbing- Have students research what rock climbers must know, have and do to be successful. What if they put other things first before safety, equipment, practice, etc. Have students make a large rock climbing rock with A BIG ROCK STATEMENT and create a rock wall in your classroom. Go out to the playground and have a personal victory celebration.
As kids climb and slide down the rock wall they shout out a BIG rock in their life they will put first.

Habit 2 Using our school Mission Statement

Introduce Dogwood's School Mission Statement

Leading- Have leadership roles in your classroom 

Create posters or videos with Do's and Don't of the playground, hallway, classroom.

Achieving- introduce WIGS (personal and classroom goals in your classroom)

Tie achieving to your behavior plans/clip charts, classroom attendance or reading charts. 

Kindness- begin to fill Emotional Bank Accounts and have "random acts of kindness."  Add KIND words to your word wall.

Empower- we empower students by using positive reinforcement. Find the "whale done" and give them praise and attention for it. Celebrate not just reaching the end goal but the journey to that moment. Instill in them the belief that their "YOU-ness" is what makes them great.

Responsible- help them to see that they are responsible for things in the classroom and their learning Using Leadership Binders gives the ownership in their learning. Set class academic goals. Encourage responsibility in reading at home each night, remembering tennis shoes on PE days and library books on Library Day. 

Our Mission is clear... now go forth. Remember YOU are a LAKER!

Habit 2 Begin With the End in Mind

Habit 2 is having a vision for the future. It is the habit where we dive deep into our character and goals to define what is important to us. This is the habit where we begin to make mission statements and have a plan for reaching goals.


Habit 2 is a great area to introduce Leadership Roles in your classroom. Pg. 74 of the Empowerment Day booklet had a great list of roles. When setting up the roles discuss the "end in mind" What is it we want this job to accomplish? and what type of person do we need to do this job?

Developing a mission statement for your children is sometimes difficult. Try using Nursery Rhymes to see what is important?

Example: After reading Jack and Jill discuss what would or could be this characters mission statement? First, think about what is important to them and go from there.
Jack wants to help others (he is going to fetch water for his family), Jill looks out for her brother by following him down the hill to see if he is okay. Jack and Jill's mission may read: We believe that you should always help others. Try it out with  your class.

Be Proactive Habit 1

Attached is a Power Point for Proactive that is appropriate for 1st or 2nd Grade. It is using the comparison of soda/water bottles to give kids the visual of proactive and reactive reactions. I could see them following up by making posters or videos showing the Do's and Don'ts of being Proactive!

Habit 1 powerpoint

Paradigms and Principles of Effeciveness

As you introduce the 7 Habits tree to the students remember that the first three habits help to build strong roots.
Character is the root of effectiveness.  " Like the top of a tree, our personality is what people see first. Although image, techniques, and skills can influence success, the real source of lasting effectiveness lies in a strong character_ the roots." ( Covey)
See: The Giving Tree Lesson Idea for sharing this concept with your students. (vluber@camdentonschools for this idea)


You may wish to introduce the Maturity Continuum to your class to show the You, I , We parts of becoming an effective leader.




How to change your habits?  What you DO depends on how you SEE things. Using the Principles of Effectiveness wheel show students how this can apply to them to GET results.

Activity: Ask students to write their name. Then ask them to write it again using their other hand. Compare the difference and how it felt. What could you do to start writing with your non dominant hand. (Change your paradigm, practice and get results)

http://blog.nawaratne.com/2012/08/paradigms-and-principles-7-habits-of.html

Activity: Call out words one at a time and have students draw, tell or write what first comes to mind. This activity will help children to understand what a paradigm is. ( Paradigms are the way we see, understand, and interpret the world- our mental map) Some words to call out may be: money, health, school, teacher, exercise, fun, food..
Activity: Use Duck Rabbit to help kids see that there are different ways to SEE things.

Some books to use with these are: Recess Queen and Ira Sleeps Over (email vluber@camdentonschools if you are interested in how these books can be used to teach these concepts.

Habit 1 Be Proactive

The Habit of Personal Responsibility, Choice, Accountability, Initiative. As you introduce and dive deeper into teaching students this habit remember the following vocabulary: Proactive Language, Circle of Influence and becoming a Transition Person. Model examples of proactive and reactive behaviors to common classroom/playground problems.

" It's not what people do to us that hurts us, it's our chosen response to what they do that hurts us. "
 (Stephen Covey)

Look for more links for lessons on Proactive soon.https://www.pinterest.com/pin/574209021218334508/

Week by Week Start Up Guide

Click on this link to print the Week by Week Start Up Guide


https://theleaderinmeonline.org/files/Quick_Start_Guide.pdf


Remember the first week of school we will begin by "building the base"

Vocabulary to introduce to your class includes: Character, Roots of Effectiveness, Paradigms, Emotional Bank Account.

Discuss how to change your habits with SEE DO GET cycle!

A Sneak Peak at LIM school

Check out what Jessup, Maryland is doing in their 2nd year of Leader in Me. Click to view the link.  A school's 2nd year plan for LIM

A New Year

Welcome! Are you excited about our 2nd year of LEADER in ME?
Please share what you would like to see on this blog to help both you and your students dive deeper into the 7 Habits.