What I do everyday, is what I do everyday. I couldn't possibly sit down and outline all the different things that go into my day, but I know one thing... I love what I do.
Today, I had the pleasure of speaking to someone from Franklin Covey. She is doing a presentation to the early childhood community on The Leader in Me in Massachusetts and wanted to hear how we are implementing the program in our school.
I could feel myself getting beyond excited. I feel like I am usually attempting to explain this to people outside our program without any frame of reference. Some get it. Some are polite enough to pretend. But for the most part, they have no idea the point of it.
She got it. She understands how amazing The Leader in Me is from her experience with elementary schools. She told me she didn't have much experience with early childhood education but hearing about our 4 year old classroom, who decided to help babies in need in our community and planned every. single. last. aspect of their project, (even earning an award from a local news station) wowed her. WOWED HER.
She was so excited to hear that in 2 short years it has improved our program on all levels. Administrators that work better together, who empower teachers and teachers who invest their blood, sweat and tears into our students and students (even toddlers and infants) who are learning communication skills and ways to be in charge of themselves from birth... it wowed her.
The more and more I told her, the more and more I realized this is so much bigger than I ever imagined, even than what I thought about when I decided to start this blog. I cannot wait to see what our infants and toddlers are going to be like when they finish preK. The preK classes we have had, have already proved to take so much away from what we have taught them. I cannot wait to see how these skills are going to help our youngest students improve their environment, their view of the world and their voice in it. The impact they have on us as educators and parents... is really just icing on the cake.
I can't speak for the woman who started this journey for us, a group of innovative preschools. Although I have heard the story of her journey to The Leader in Me, I can't tell you a story that isn't my story to tell. I can however tell you the inspiration it has given me because she is one amazing lady. She has an innovative, visionary mind and absolutely believes anything is possible. In a few of the presentations she has done around town and beyond, she often quotes Walt Disney, "If you can dream it, you can do it." And after she finishes her sentence she always says, "And we are doing it." No matter how many times I hear it, I believe it more and more each time.
Most of our staff completed the 7 Habits of Highly Effective training by the end of 2010. Those that went into it with an open mind came out a better person, changed and recharged, with a bag of life tools. What this meant to our students, we still weren't sure but the first step was integrating the language and tools into our own lives.
I remember once having a discussion with my peers about "my weather" and feeling so silly!
[Controlling your own weather (Habit 1 - Be Proactive) refers to being able to stay in control of your own emotions, feelings and actions. Just because someone says something nasty, doesn't mean you have to say something nasty back. If you fall down steps, stub your toe and forget your lunch at home, doesn't mean your day is ruined right, Alexander?!]
It was uncomfortable and felt awkward to discuss my feelings in terms of sunny and cloudy and terrible thunderstorms with lightening. But now you would never know, it is just a part of us, all of us. The other day I overheard a conversation between 2 students. Student 1 had just said something mean to another student and student 2 responded, very matter of factly:
"Haven't you learned?? We are supposed to be bucket FILLERS not bucket DIPPERS and what you said did not help me fill my bucket. For example, I think your picture is beautiful."
The look on the child's face was sadness, not because she was in trouble but because she didn't realize the affect of her comment until her friend responded. Her friend didn't even respond reactively, but in fact taught her a different way to look at things. The habits in action were amazing. In this one exchange, the students showed their knowledge of being in charge of themselves, being proactive vs. reactive and their concept of emotional bank accounts. It was unreal. (Did I mention, they were 3?)
The more interactions like this that occur, the more and more we believe (WE being the adults) and the less silly we feel. The children are truly teaching us with their ease of absorption (most of them get this better than we do!)
The key to the 7 Habits is that they are a work in progress. We can always improve our abilities to listen with the intent to listen and not respond. We all need constant reminders to take time for ourselves. We absolutely, positively need help remembering that thinking win-win is not always a compromise and everyone can truly be happy.
But, with a solid foundation and staff ready to take on the silliness of sharpening their saws, we were ready to take on the enormous task of introducing these habits to our students. And what better week than the week we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.! MLK is THE LEADER of being proactive and being in charge of yourself. He is, in fact, the person who taught us, that we can be WHATEVER WE WANT TO BE regardless of our circumstances.
If I believed in coincidences, the timing of all of this would be the epitome of just that! But I don't. The timing of our implementation day and our class's MLKJ study, was unreal. So unreal, it had to be meant to be this way. There was no stopping our little leaders now. Walt Disney was right, we were doing it. THEY WERE DOING IT. I am just so glad, I got to watch it happen.
