Schools
Ledge Street: 7 Habits of a Successful School
Ledge Street students and staff have developed some interesting habits.
An evaluation team from FranklinCovey leadership training is heading to Ledge Street Elementary School today to see if students have learned their lesson.
There will be no math quizzes or spelling bees. The only NECAPs will be the ones attached to the legs of the students and staff members who have spent the past three years preparing for this particular moment.
Friday will be a test of their mastery of the "The Leader In Me" program. Ledge is the only school in the district that has built an entire school curriculum and culture around the 7 Habits of Happy Kids.
The "Leader in Me" Program is a spin-off of the successful book by author Dr. Steven Covey, who penned "The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People."
If they pass muster, they will be the first school in the northeastern United States to achieve Lighthouse School status, a distinction that has to be earned, and which says a lot about the leadership skills of each and every student in the school.
"Lighthouse status means the '7 Habits' are embedded in our school culture," said Ledge Street Principal Janet Valeri.
"Three years ago when we started, we felt as a staff that we were responsible -- and held accountable -- to improve our kids' lives, and there was no accountability on the part of the child to improve themselves. We sort of bumped into this approach and we've been using it ever since – and it's made a difference," Valeri said.
It has not been an easy transition for staff. Synthesizing the program into lesson plans has been in addition to maintaining all the other academic rigors at the state and federal level. Not all teachers were immediately enthused, said second-grade teacher Michele Oro.
"This isn't something that happens overnight. You have to have your whole staff on board and the students and the parents on board, so that each year we'd add more components, until we got to where we are now," Oro said.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm back in college again. There's a learning curve, and it's a lot of work," says Oro, "but it's so worth it."
She's a firm believer in the transformative power of the program.
"What has it done? Not only has it's made the children more responsible, but they are learning how to be leaders – not just in the school, but in the community," Oro said.
And it's made her a more effective teacher.
She was 22 when she landed at Ledge as a new teacher. Seventeen years later, she says she's never felt more challenged or exhilarated as an educator; in these three years she's never seen students more engaged, academically or socially.
Every lesson learned in the classroom, on the playground, and even after school hours, begins and ends with the seven simple habits that are at the foundation of what Ledge Street has been tracking as tangible student successes – attendance is up, academic achievement is improved, bad behavior has decreased, every student has a unique personal goal, every classroom has a motto, and every single person inside the school fully understands how the seven habits makes a difference, Oro says, because it has given them a common language, on which everyone can build.
Her second graders have added the word "paradigms" to their working vocabulary, a word that means "everyone has their own way of seeing things," and that every one of them has a unique voice.
"This is the base of our school right now and everything grows from this," Oro said. "This is the one biggest thing for me, in 17 years of teaching. It's a wonderful way to teach."
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- Learn more about aspects of the "Leader In Me" program by watching the two-minute video uploaded with this story.
- Learn more about the criteria for Lighthouse Status here.
- Read about how this program was part of a concerted effort to improve performance at Ledge Street School under Principal Janet Valeri.
The 7 Habits:
Habit 1 - Be Proactive: You're in ChargeI am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.Habit 2 — Begin with the End in Mind: Have a PlanI plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen
Habit 3 — Put First Things First: Work First, Then PlayI spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.
Habit 4 — Think Win-Win: Everyone Can Win
I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in others’ Emotional Bank Accounts. When conflicts arise, I look for third alternatives.
Habit 5 — Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood: Listen Before You Talk
I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.
Habit 6 — Synergize: Together Is Better
I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than anyone of us can alone. I am humble.
Habit 7 — Sharpen The Saw: Balance Feels Best
I take care of my body by eating right, exercising and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I find meaningful ways to help others.
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