Principally Speaking

It’s September, and students are well into the seven habits and hand signals. Now they are learning to define and apply these habits at school and at home. Modeling the habits and giving students opportunities to practice leadership principles are what makes the difference between knowing and understanding. Teachers have access to specific Leader In Me lesson plans and activities but they know that integrating these principles throughout the day is what really makes an impact on students. Just about any literature, history or science lesson already has the components embedded. Just a comment or two helps bring out those concepts for the students.

Academic achievement is important, but we also want to reward students for demonstrating leadership. Individual classrooms nominate student leaders of the week and greeters are available from each classroom. Students in second through sixth grades will be running for student council this month. Based on their campaign and speech, their peers will select a classroom council leader who will attend monthly Student Leadership Council meetings with the administration. Safety Leaders, Mail Delivery Leaders and Technology Leaders will all eventually fall into place.

Implementing the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People into our school will make a significant difference in how we respond to each other and how we teach children to take responsibility for their own actions and behavior.