The Leader In Me
Focus Habit for February: Habit 4 Think Win-Win
Teaching Tip from Sean Covey
You simply learn better when you teach.
Why? Because your paradigm shifts. You no longer see yourself as a passive listener and learner, but as a teacher. And knowing you are going to teach what you’re learning helps you internalize the content at a much higher level.
When you teach something you feel good about, you increase the likelihood of living by it.
Teaching something has a reinforcing effect on your ability to live by it. It is hard to act contrary to a principle you are teaching someone else to live by.
When you teach what you learn, you promote bonding in the relationship.
The deepest need of the human heart is to be understood, so when you listen to truly understand, it makes a huge deposit into the other person’s Emotional Bank Account.
The concept of Teach to Learn is perfectly consistent with The Leader in Me philosophy. It empowers students to take charge of their own learning. Here are a few examples of how you might begin to utilize the Teach to Learn idea:
The next time you are teaching content to your student—whether in history, science, or language arts—tell them you are going to ask them to teach what they are learning immediately after you’re done. Afterward, walk around the room and observe how they are doing. Watch how their learning improves simply by teaching the content themselves.
Book List for Your Classroom
Habit 4: - Think Win-Win
Alexander and the Wind up Mouse
Everyone loves Willy the wind-up mouse, while Alexander the real mouse is chased away with brooms and mousetraps. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be loved and cuddled, thinks Alexander, and he wishes he could be a wind-up mouse too. In this gentle fable about a real mouse and a mechanical mouse, Leo Lionni explores the magic of friendship.
The Rainbow Fish Marcus Pfister
A simple story about a beautiful fish who learns to make friends by sharing his most prized possessions.
The Doorbell Rang Pat Hutchins
Each ring of the doorbell brings more friends to share the delicious cookies Ma has made. This terrific and suspenseful read-aloud picture book about friendship, sharing, and cookies can also be used to introduce basic math concepts to young children. "Refreshing, enjoyable and unpredictable."—School Library Journal
The Very Clumsy Click Beetle Carle
When a little click beetle falls onto his back, he seeks the help of a wise old click beetle. ?Look at me,? says the more experienced click beetle, giving a loud CLICK and flipping onto its feet. But try as he might, the clumsy little click beetle just can?t get the hang of it--or can he?
Let’s Be Enemies Janice May Udry
James used to be my friend. But today he is my enemy.
James and John are best friends—or at least they used to be. They shared pretzels, umbrellas, and even chicken pox. Now James always wants to be boss, and John doesn't want to be friends anymore. But when he goes to James' house to tell him so, something unexpected happens.
The Butter Battle Book Suess
The Butter Battle Book, Dr. Seuss's classic cautionary tale, introduces readers to the important lesson of respecting differences. The Yooks and Zooks share a love of buttered bread, but animosity brews between the two groups because they prefer to enjoy the tasty treat differently. The timeless and topical rhyming text is an ideal way to teach young children about the issues of tolerance and respect.
The Lion and the Mouse Aesop
In Aesop's most beloved fable, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap.
Wednesday Surprise Bunting
Anna and Grandma are planning a surprise for Dad's birthday. Dad thinks he has received all his presents, but Grandma stands up and gives him the best one of all: she reads aloud the stories that Anna has taught her.
Amos and Boris Steig
Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sail the sea and finds himself in extreme need of rescue. And there will come a day, long after Boris has gone back to a life at sea and Amos has gone back to life on dry land, when the tiny mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale.
Something From Nothing Gilman
The blanket Joseph's grandfather made him is transformed into many things as the years go by: a jacket, a vest, a tie, a handkerchief--and finally a button. Gilman's modern adaptation and lively illustrations turn this favorite Jewish tale into a contemporary classic
What Makes me Happy Anholt
Happy or mad, busy or bored, young readers will recognize and relish all the ups and downs of childhood portrayed with bouncing verse and rollicking watercolors in WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY?
Life is Fun Nancy Carlson
To be happy on earth, just follow these simple instructions. Don't bring snakes inside the house. Laugh a lot! And most importantly, make big, big plans. In the tradition of her acclaimed "I Like Me!" Nancy Carlson presents another warm and funny book sure to boost spirits and encourage kids to make the most of life.
Bartholmew and the Oobleck
The king is tired... he's tired of the four things that come down from the sky: the sun, the rain, the fog and the snow. He wants something new to come down. Bartholomew tries to warn him... but the king insists upon having his magicians bring down something no one has ever seen before:
When the Oobleck comes down, however, it threatens the safety of the entire kingdom! The magicians can't help because they are trapped high in their mountain by the Oobleck. Oh, no! How will the king save the castle and the kingdom? What can Bartholomew do to help? What magic words will save the day?
The Frog Prince
This humorous retelling of the classic fairy tale about the princess who kisses a frog and gets a prince.
1. Right There Question: Who turned the Prince into a frog?
2. Interpretive Question: How did the Frog Prince keep the end in mind?
3. Reflective Question: Have you ever had people see you differently than you see yourself? (Sometimes people may call you names....but you are still you.)
4. Critical Question: Why did the author or illustrator choose to have the Frog Prince able to think like a person instead of like a frog?
Smoky Night Eve Bunting
A young boy and his mother are forced to flee their apartment during a night of rioting in Los Angeles. Fires and looting force neighbors—who have always avoided one another—to come together in the face of danger and concern for their missing pets
Socks for Supper
When a poor couple exchange socks for cheese and milk, they receive more than expected.
The Legend of the Bluebonnet Tomie DePaola
When a killing drought threatens the existence of the tribe, a courageous little Comanche girl sacrifices her most beloved possession--and the Great Spirit's answer results not only in much needed rain but a very special gift in return.
Chrysanthemum – Henkes
Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance to share all year round.
Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. "You're named after a flower!" teases Victoria. "Let's smell her," says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?
1. Right There Question: Who was Chrysanthemums teacher?
2. Interpretive Question: Why did the kids tease Chrysanthemum?
3. Reflective Question: Have you ever had anything like this happen to you? How can you turn teasing into a win-win situation?
4. Critical Question: Why did the author or illustrator choose to have a school class both demonstrate win-lose and win-win!