Habit 3 is Put first things first- Which means work first then play. Sometimes I have trouble with it. I normally race to get done with my work so I can play video games.

Students

This week we are focusing on habit two - Begin with the end in mind. It is about thinking before you act. If I buy that candy bar that I really want before something that I need. It probably won't lead to anything good. If you can think of another example comment in.


Mrs. Olson's Students

Here is a quote about leadership by an anonymous person.

" Anyone can follow a path, but only a leader can blaze one."

Mrs. Olson's fourth grade students

We are still on habit one - Being Proactive - the short version of what it means is I'm in charge of me. Someone did a biography on Mozart and he thinks that Mozart used habit one because he didn't let people boss him around and he made his own decisions.

Mrs. Olson's 4th grade students

Have you ever heard of the book "The Seven Habits of Healthy Kids" by Steven Covey. It is a really inspiring book. Steven Covey is the founder of the habits. Habit one is Be Proactive. Habit two is  Begin with the end in mind. Habit three is Put first things first. Habit four is think win - win. Habit five is seek first to understand, then to be understood. Habit six is Synergize. Last but not least, habit seven is Sharpen the saw. We will be explaining what these mean week by week.

Mrs. Olson's Students

This week at McKinley we will be focusing on habit one - Be proactive. Being proactive means that you are in charge of what you do. I can't blame my neighbor for what I did. It is also about being responsible for your actions. What are some feelings that you might have when you're being proactive. If you want comment in on some feelings you might have wen you are proactive.

Thanks, Mrs. Olson's Class

Have you ever read the Hardy Boys book series? The Hardy boys and their father use habit 6: Synergize. They team up solving mysteries. I actually have the 1st book right now. The 1st book is called The Tower Treasure. By the way the author is Franklin W. Dixon.

Students

A 4th grade student read the book Liberty Porter this is what she had to say: Liberty Porter dressed up as a boy to see the White House and ended up helping people.

This week's quote is: I may walk slowly but I never walk backwards - Abe Lincoln

That is this week's quote chosen by the 4th grade students.

Tony Wagner from Harvard has 7 Survival Skills for our youth entering in the work force.  The seven survival skills include; 1. Critical thinking/Problem solving 2.  Ability to collaborate and lead by influence, 3. Adaptability and Agility, 4. Initiative and sense of Entrepreneurship, 5. Effective Oral and Written Communication, 6. Access and Analyzing Information, 7.  Curiosity and Imagination.  How as a parent can we encourage and foster the development of these skills in our children?  Encourage creativity, imagination and play in our children.  Provide opportunities for children to be in non structured activities.  Turn the television, computer, game systems off and play a game and talk to your children.  Engage children in writing activities, examples include journaling, mad libs, and creative writing.  

A fourth grade student watched The Blindside. He thinks that Michael Oher (right offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, #74) used the habits 5 and 6. For habit five, he always did what people told him to do. For habit 6 He works with his team and coaches.

Mrs. Olson's students

A fourth grade student is reading a book (Garden of Eve, by K.L. Going) and thinks that they represent habit #4 Think Win-Win. In the book Eve goes into a magical land and realizes that her friend isn't with her so she goes back to get him. That definitely shows true friendship, and a good leader.
Mrs. Olson's Students

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind"- Williams James

One of the 4th graders is reading a book titled, Shoeless Joe & Me by Dan Gutman.  One of the main characters in the book used the think win win habit and the synergize habit when he assisted an ill boy by giving the boy his own medicine when no one else would help. 

A great story to read with your children is, How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath.  It is a great story about how each one of us can put "drips" in people's buckets by saying or doing something kind for them.  It also discusses how when we put a "drip" in someone's bucket we are also putting a "drip" in our own bucket.  It is a great story to read with any age!  Our McKinley library has a copy, perhaps you could encourage your child to check it out and bring it home to read together!

Quote for today is " Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better" 

Welcome parents to our McKinley Leader In Me Blog!  Our goal is to provide all of you with information and resources for you to encourage the use of the 7 habits in your home.  A Leader in Me packet with basic information and books available will be sent home with your child's report card this week.  The 7 Habits are; #1 Be Proactive, #2 Begin With the End in Mind, #3 Put First Things First, #4 Think Win Win, #5 Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, #6 Synergize, #7 Sharpen the Saw.  Thank you, McKinley Staff