Work First, Then Play The Leader in Me Initiative, based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is in full force at Elm Grove Elementary. Leaders are continuing to be cultivated through their education and application of the 7 Habits. This month, our students are learning about Habit 3, which encourages us to “Put First Things First”. This means our student leaders: ! Spend time on the things that are most important; ! Say no to things that they should not do; ! Set priorities, schedule accordingly and follow their plan; & ! Are Organized! DECEMBER 2014 It All Starts with You! The last two months, our children have learned about Habit 1 (Be Proactive) and Habit 2 (Begin with the End in Mind). Now, they are learning about Habit 3 (Put First Things First). Just to recap, after our children take initiative and responsibility for their own actions (Habit 1) and then set goals for themselves (Habit 2), we as parents can help them realize how they can obtain those goals by working first, then playing (Habit 3). Here’s an idea! Our students have a planner the school provided. Do you write down what needs to be done for the week? Homework due dates, field trip reminders, are typical entries. But, we could also encourage them to add weekend fun so they can see, if we work hard during the week then they have something to forward to after the work is done. It’s important to celebrate our successes along the way! Habit 3 Put First Things First MONTH LY HABIT SPOTLIGHT How can we model Habit 3 at home for our children? This is one of the busiest times of the year with the holiday season upon us. Class parties, family gatherings, shopping lists can be overwhelming and stressful. But, if we are organized and concentrate on the big priorities first, BEFORE we play (surf Facebook, watch television, etc.), we can accomplish our busy holiday goals and then better enjoy our time with family and friends. We can also say no, unapologetically, to things that keep us from spending time on the things we need to get done or more importantly spend time with those that matter most!