Novi Teachers Share the 'Seven Habits' Initiative With Parents

Staff members of would tell you that their goal is not simply to grow great students — but to develop great leaders, as well.

Teaching leadership is the idea behind the district's Leader in Me program, which is in all of Novi's K-6 buildings.

To educate parents about the initiative, the district invited them to attend an informational Parent Night on Monday at . More than 200 parents attended to learn what Leader in Me means for their students.

"What we're doing here is not just a program, it's actually a way of being," said teacher Bridget Zahradnik. "It's a way that we're going to run our district. It's a way that students will be in our classrooms and be in our schools. It's not something that will come in one day and be out the next."

The Leader in Me initiative shows students how to be leaders by teaching them the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, a book by Stephen Covey.

The goal is to teach students beyond academics to help them grow into leaders who can effectively communicate, have high self-esteem, be responsible for their actions and learning, and have character and competence.

Novi Schools' staff believes teaching students these qualities will help them be more effective and successful in life.

"Our goal in Novi is to build leaders, not just smart people," said Novi Superintendent Dr. Steve Matthews. "Our goal is to help the students develop the skills that they need to fulfill their potential. When we combine this program with our academic program, we are working with you to create the leaders of today and tomorrow."

Matthews pointed out that Novi continues to shine academically, but he said students also need a strong foundation of life skills.

Jennifer Vellucci, who has a daughter in first grade at , said she has started to hear her talking about the Seven Habits at home. She attended the parent night to learn more about it.

"I think it's going to be wonderful for the kids once they start implementing it completely," she said.

The Seven Habits

Parents moved from room to room Monday night, taking seven minutes to learn about each habit. The Seven Habits are:

1. Be Proactive — You're in charge

Being proactive, in the Seven Habits definition, is learning how to not just be reactive to your environment. Proactive people choose their actions, attitudes and moods and take responsibility for these choices. Proactive people have control over their circumstances and don't blame others.

2. Begin With the End in Mind — Have a plan

Habit No. 2 is all about living with a vision statement. Effective people begin with the end in mind by having a plan and envisioning outcomes, such as when you are doing a jigsaw puzzle and have the picture to work toward in the end.

3. Put First Things First — Work first, then play

Habit No. 3, quite simply, is about prioritizing what is most important to you. For students, the teachers tell them to do their homework before watching TV. Effective people also "live by the compass, not by the clock" and put tasks that have value to them first, such as spending time with family, before getting caught up in unimportant tasks.

4. Think Win-Win — Everyone can win

Habit No. 4 takes an adjustment of attitude to realize that there is plenty out there for everyone to win. The book teaches that effective people learn to balance their courage to get what they want with the consideration for what others want.

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood — Listen before you talk

This habit is exactly what it sounds like: Listen with the intent to understand instead of with the intent to reply. Often people don't listen because they have a short attention span or are thinking of how to give advice before the person is done talking. In the schools, teachers tell the students to listen with their ears, eyes and hearts.

6. Synergize — Together is better

Synergizing is about working together, cooperating and compromising, but it is also more than that. To truly synergize, two people are able to come up with a third alternative that is better than the two they could have come up with on their own.

7. Sharpen the Saw — Balance feels best

The final habit is about balancing your life in four main areas: physical, mental, social/emotional and spiritual. Effective people take time to take care of themselves.

How to Get Involved

At the end of Parent Night, the presenters gave parents these suggestions for how to do more with the Seven Habits outside of school:

• Join the Parent Leadership Team to work with other parents about using the Seven Habits.
• Use the Seven Habits language at home.
• Attend the Seven Habits book club at the on Feb. 21, Feb. 28 or March 6.
• Monitor the Seven Habits page on the Novi School District's website for updates or more information.
• Give community support, such as donating to the Novi Education Foundation or attending the NEF's Green Gala fundraiser March 24. The NEF helps fund the Leader in Me program.
• Attend a Leader Day at a local school, such as Beaumont Elementary in Waterford on March 22. This school has already implemented the Seven Habits into its daily teaching.
• Attend the families course on the Seven Habits, put on by Covey's foundation in Novi (date to be announced).