After reading about sharpening the saw it really made me evaluate my own life. “We must devote the time to renewing ourselves physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially.” I realize that I don’t follow these skills or I try to and fail in most. At times I feel like there is not enough time in the day. I have a full time job. I run a business after work. I have two kids under the age of 3 and I go to school. I am always working and not really slowing down. The only time I have peace is when I am sleeping which is not that much time. Out of the rules: Physically I have worked out every day for the past ten years. I am not so much concerned about this. I believe this helps me clear my stress on a daily basis. I have always been a spiritual person, but I know I don’t spend enough time devoted for this area. Mentally I feel pretty strong. I don’t crack under pressure. I may not deal with my temper at times like I should, but for the most part I am pretty good mentally. I don’t really have a social life. I feel like I am really busy with other things to have fun at times. This is definitely an area I need to work on in the future. I really enjoyed reading this habit it really made me look and the mirror and see all of the flaws I need to work on.
This is kind of difficult for me to follow. I have always been an introvert. In the field of teaching even if you are not an introvert by nature you will definitely be an introvert. Think about it. You are with students most of the day and by the time you are around adults all they want to talk about is teaching or students. This can be a little boring. I feel like I have a problem with synergy because I don’t feel that I am around adults that much in my day to need their help or ask their advice. “Two heads are better than one.”(Covey) With more teacher collaboration in schools I think the schools are realizing that many teachers do their own thing and don’t really take advice from others. This is a great way to synergize a learning community.
References Steven covey, S.C. (2015). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Habit 6: Think Win-Win. Retrieved 30 September, 2015, from https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit6.php Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
When reading about this section I realized that we don’t have a lot of learning about listening. My wife tells me constantly that I “never listen” or that “I never follow instructions.” I personally think I have a listening problem. I am very stubborn and I always think I am right. This can be a problem when you work with others because at times if I don’t agree with what they have to say I instantly shut myself off and don’t really soak in what they are trying to say. “Most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. You listen to yourself as you prepare in your mind what you are going to say, the questions you are going to ask, etc.” (Steven Covey, 2015) This kind of validates my poor listening qualities. I am trying to work on this flaw, but I think it’s genetic. Steven covey, S.C. (2015). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Habit 5: Think Win-Win. Retrieved 30 September, 2015,from https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit5.php I have been doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling for over 10 years. These are weird sports because they are individual sports, but a team sport. You train hard every day beating up your team mates and when you go to a match you are all by yourself it’s all up to you to win or lose. There is no one to blame. In America we have a bad habit of blaming others for our short comings. “There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me”(Covey). As a teacher we see this every single day. We deal with parents who blame us for not giving enough work, giving too much work, not giving enough time to finish work. These are excuses and blaming others. Teaching is kind of like wrestling we collaborate as a team, we have meetings as a team we even have lunch as a team, but in the class room it’s up to us to make the right choices so are students succeed.
Covey, S. (2008). The Leader in Me (2nd Edition ed.). New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks There is a quote from the movie "Trains, Planes, and automobiles" that my father used to always say. "LIke your work, love your wife." It basically means that your work should be important, but ultimately your family and loved ones should be first in your life. I think a lot of people get too consumed with money and working for things instead of taking a step back and really asking yourself why you are working. I personally work to support my wife and two children. If it wasn't for them I probably wouldn't be working as hard as I do. They give me a reason to get up every morning with a smile on my face thankful that I am a live and healthy enough to go to work to support my family. "First things are those things you, personally, find of most worth" (Covey). When I stress about work or money I am always thankful that I have a family who loves me no matter what. I am able to complete my professional goals because I have a great support system around me. It goes hand and hand.
Covey, S. (2008). The Leader in Me (2nd Edition ed.). New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks I am a Special Education and I constantly have to write predictions for future IEP goals. When I write these goals I have to have a baseline and project where I see this student in one calendar year. It can be a very challenging process because I have to come up with a plan with the end in mind. I have to supplement and break down information in steps so they can grasp the concept. I can't have a student know their multiplication facts in one year if I don't take time and teach them one by one or step by step. I feel like as a society we want everything now and we don't have a plan with the end in mind. We want a large house or expensive car, but without a plan in mind. We want the result, but no process to achieve this goal. "Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination"(Covey).As an educator I want my students to realize that hard work and dedication is a process it's not an overnight thing that you have. If they want their dreams to be achieved they need a plan with an end in mind and they need to work hard for this goal. Many students don't want to work hard and think they will just skate by. I am trying to change this behavior in some students.
Covey, S. (2008). The Leader in Me (2nd Edition ed.). New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. My whole life my father would tell me that I need to be proactive. This wasn't a trait that I was born with. It had to be learned from an early age. Teachers would say that I was a day dreamer and that I would not be able to focus. My Dad was hard on on me for academics for my entire life. I really didn't understand why he was like this. I would often not like him because when my friends were out on the weekends I was either grounded for not finishing my work or not getting an A on a test. I didn't understand these lessons. It wasn't until I graduated college and had kids of my own to realize what he was doing. He was teaching me how to "Be Proactive." "Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. You can't keep blaming everything on your parents or grandparents"(Covey). I would do this constantly and my Dad only wanted what was best for me. Being Proactive was taught to me and I plan on passing this on to my students and future students. Many of my students don't have a great home life so teaching them how to be proactive and responsible for their own affairs will only help them in the future when they advance through the academic ranks. This is a great trait that can easily be mastered and I plan on continuing this tradition.
Covey, S. (2008). The Leader in Me (2nd Edition ed.). New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. |
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